Prior names
Spyridium eriocephalum var. glabrisepalum
Etymology
Spyridium from the Greek 'spyridion' meaning a small basket, referring to the flower-heads which are circled by leafy bracts. Glabrisepalum from the Latin 'glaber' meaning smooth and 'sepalus' meaning sepals, referring to its glabrous sepals giving the flower-heads of the variety a non-woolly appearance.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and found on the eastern side of Kangaroo Island, growing in Eucalyptus diversifolia and E. cneorifolia mallee on lateritic and sandy soils. Native. Very rare in South Australia.
Herbarium region: Kangaroo Island
NRM region: Kangaroo Island
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Low slender shrub to 1.2 m high, with densely pubescent, white loosely appressed to spreading stellate hairs on resinous young branches. Leaves alternate with stipules triangular, to 2.5 mm long, fused for half of their length or more, reddish-brown, glabrous, very resinous especially when young. Lamina narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic or narrowly obovate, or linear, to 9.8 mm long and 3 mm wide, base cuneate, sometimes obtuse or cordate, margins recurved to revolute, apex acute to acuminate, with a distinctly recurved tip, upper surface glabrous, smooth to papillose, lower surface often obscured by margins, with dense white stellate hairs, midrib also with long appressed white or sometimes rusty simple hairs. Inflorescence a dense axillary or terminal head with funnel shaped white or cream flowers, with glabrous, thick sepals giving the flower-head a non-woolly appearance. Flowering between August and November. The species can be distinguished form Spyridium eriocephalum by its glabrous sepals and wider leaves and more resinous on the inflorescence and flowers and young stems. Fruits are dark brown head with numerous seed capsules. Seeds are orange mottled ovoid to 1.5 mm long and 1 mm wide, with a smooth surface. Seed embryo type is spatulate fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and December. Collect fruit heads that are darkening and have a fluffy appearance. Rub the flower parts in your palm to see if there is any seed, which should be orange and hard. Place the heads in a tray and leave to dry for a week. Then rub the heads with your hands or a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. 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. Seed viability is usually high but seed production can be low. This species has morphophysiological dormancy that need to be overcome for the seed to germinate.
In 2016 seed collections were achieved for three roadside populations on Kangaroo island with the support of the Australian Seed Bank Partnership.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA | 6,400 (3.76 g) | 30+ | 15-Dec-2016 | JRG533A Kangaroo Island | 1-Nov-2017 | 95% | +5°C, -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 6,400 (3.47 g) | 30+ | 12-Dec-2016 | DJD3560 Kangaroo Island | 1-Nov-2017 | 100% | +5°C, -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 4,400 (3.19 g) | 30+ | 15-Dec-2016 | JRG532 Kangaroo Island | 1-Nov-2017 | 90% | +5°C, -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 321 (0.132 g) | ? | 12-Jan-2022 | M.J.Haby (Grace James Corner) Kangaroo Island | 7-Jul-2022 | 70% | -18°C |
BGA | 608 (0.250 g) | ? | 12-Jan-2022 | JRG853 Kangaroo Island | 7-Jul-2022 | 62% | -18°C |
BGA MSB | 1,000 (0.42 g) 1,000 (0.42 g) | 262 | 11-Feb-2004 | ERT6 Kangaroo Island | 7-Jul-2022 | 95% | -18°C |
BGA | 2,100 (1.733 g) | 1-Feb-2023 | KI airport Kangaroo Island | 20-Jun-2023 | 100% | -18°C |