Botanical art
Prior names
Athrixia athrixioides var. athrixioides
Panaetia athrixoides, orth.var.
Panaetia athrixioides
Asteridea athrixioides f. horripes
Asteridea athrixioides f. athrixioides
Athrixia tenella var. horripes
Athrixia athrixioides var. horripes
Common names
Wirewort
Etymology
Asteridea from the generic name Aster and the modern Latin suffix '-ideus' meaning similar to, alluding to the general appearance of the type species to the genus Aster. Athrixioides meaning resembling the genus Atrixia.
Distribution and status
Found across the central part of South Australia growing on calcareous, sandy or clayey soils in saline or alluvial flats, undulating plains and rocky hills. Also found in Western Australia and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Ascending to erect annual herb to 20 cm high; branches with scattered cottony and scale-like hairs. Leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate to 40 mm long and 3 mm wide; margin recurved, pubescent above, cobwebby below. Single flower on a long reddish stalk with bright-yellow daisy flower. Flowering between July and November. Fruits are brown daisy head. Seed embryo type is spathulate fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and January. Pick by hand mature heads that are turning brown and contain semi-hard brown seed inside. Place the heads in a tray to dry for 1-2 weeks. Then rub the heads gently by hand 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. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.