Botanical art
Prior names
Lhotzkya genetylloides var. bracteosa
Lhotzkya genetylloides
Lhotzkya alpestris var. bracteosa
Lhotzkya alpestris
Genetyllis alpestris
Common names
Snow Myrtle
Snow Heath-myrtle
Etymology
Calytrix from the Greek 'kalyx' meaning calyx and 'thrix' meaning hair, referring to the awns on the sepals. Alpestris from Latin meaning of high mountain but the reason for this name is unclear.
Distribution and status
Found in the South-east in South Australia, growing in heath or heathy woodland on sandy soils. Also found in Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Murray, South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect spreading shrub to 2.5 m high with hairy branches, often arching. Leaves linear to narrowly ovate or narrowly lanceolate,to 5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; thick, crowded, mostly perpendicular to branches, usually with scattered, stiff hairs. Inflorescence in clusters in upper leaf axis, with white sometimes pink flowers. Flowering between September and January. Fruits are brown fruit with persistent calyx and no awn. Seed embryo type is spatulate fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between December and March. Collect heads by hand when they are brown and slightly fat at the base. This should contain small hard seed. No cleaning is required if only the fruits were collected. If collected with other material, use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place.