Prior names
Bassia blackiana
Common names
Black's Copperburr
Black's Bindyi
Etymology
'Sclerolaena' from the Greek skleros, meaning hard; and chlaina, meaning covering; referring to the hard fruiting perianth covering the seed; 'blackiana' after JM Black, botanist and author of the 'Flora of South Australia' first published in four volumes from 1922 to 1929.
Distribution and status
Mainly restricted to the Lake Eyre region, a few records from Queensland and New South Wales. Rare in South Australia, suspected of being at risk nationally.
Herbarium region: Lake Eyre
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Rounded herb to 30 cm high; branches loosely woolly; leaves 5-20 mm long. Flowers solitary, perianth woolly. Fruits are fruiting perianth woolly or glabrous, tube barrel-shaped, c. 2 mm high, spines 5, 0.5-1.5 mm long, recurved. Seed embryo type is peripheral
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds by stripping off the spiny fruits, wear gloves to protect from the spines. Remove twigs, leaves and other material using a sieve. Leave fruits to dry before storage.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA | 10,500 (49.42 g) | 50+ | 3-Sep-2013 | MJT432 Lake Eyre | 24-Mar-2015 | 85% | +5°C, -18°C |
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.