Botanical art
Common names
Symon's Mulla Mulla
Etymology
Ptilotus from the Greek 'ptilotos' meaning feathered or winged; referring to the hairy flowers. Symonii named after David Symon (1920-2011), South Australian botanist, renowned worldwide for his study of the Solanaceae family.
Distribution and status
Found in the far south-western part of South Australia, growing on limestone plains in low rocky rises and floodplain. Also found in Western Australia. Native. Rare in South Australia. Uncommon in Western Australia.
Herbarium region: Nullarbor
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Much-branched perennial herb with several long prostrate stems to 50 cm long arising from a rhizome. Herb low creeping or sprawling upwards amongst bushes with young shoots slightly tomentose with appressed hairs vanishing downwards with age. Branches with scattered small oblong-lanceolate leaves, upper ones often aciculate. Inflorescent solitary spike at terminal of branchlets with yellowish-green to straw-coloured flowers with perianth reddish fading to green-yellow and creamy. Flowering between June and February. Fruits are straw-coloured globular head containing numerous long papery and hairy fruits. Seed embryo type is peripheral.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and January. Be very careful when collecting this species as the fruits contain fine hairs that may cause an allergic reaction for some people. Collect the fruit heads when dried to a pale straw colour. Each fruit should come off the head easily when fingers are rubbed up the stem. Collect more fruits than required as not all fruits will have a viable seed. Be very careful when cleaning this species as the fruits contain fine hairs that may cause an allergic reaction for some people. To clean, rub the fruit heads gently to dislodge the seed at the base of each fruit. 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. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA | 1,240 (1.17 g) | 40+ | 30-Nov-2018 | DEM9301 Nullarbor | 24-Apr-2019 | 100% | -18°C |