Plants of
South Australia
Calotis hispidula
Asteraceae
Hairy Burr-daisy,
Bogan Flea
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
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Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 2

Prior names

Cheiroloma hispidulum

Common names

Hairy Burr-daisy

Bogan Flea

Etymology

Calotis from the Greek 'kalos' meaning beautiful and 'otos' meaning ear, after the first species named in the genus Calotis cuneifolia which has an ear-shaped pappus. Hispidula means covered with minute stiff hairs or fine bristles.

Distribution and status

A very common species found across South Australia except on Kangaroo Island and the lower South-east, growing in a wide variety of communities and soils ranging from heavy clays to shallow stony soils. Also found in all mainland States. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, 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

Annual prostrate or ascending herb to 10 cm high, hairy. Leaves sessile, cuneate to oblanceolate to 2 cm long and 7 mm wide. Flower-heads numerous in dense leafy cymose panicles, ray florets yellow. Flowering between June and October. Fruits are dense round spiny fruit-head. Seeds are red-brown semi-flat pyramid-shaped seed to 3 mm long, covered with hairs and with spines at the wider end. Seed embryo type is spathulate.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between September and December. Collect mature seed heads that are dried and turning brown by picking off the heads and placing them in a paper bag. Be careful as the heads are spiny. Leave the heads in the paper bag to dry for at least a week. No further cleaning required if only the heads are collected. If other material were collected, use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Whole heads can be stored 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. 1. Germination 100% on 1% w/v agar, 8/16 dark/light, 10oC. 2. Germination 100% on 1% w/v agar 8/16 dark/light, 15oC. 3. Germination 100% on 1% w/v 8/16 dark/light, 20oC. See http://data.kew.org/sid

We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.