Botanical art
Common names
Fern-leaf Daisy
Etymology
Ixiochlamys, from the Greek 'ixos', meaning bird-lime and 'chlamys', meaning cloak, referring to the sticky, glandular surface of the involucres of Ixiochlamys cuneifolia. Filicifolia, from the Latin 'filix', meaning fern and 'folium', meaning a leaf, referring to the species' fern-like leaves.
Distribution and status
Found in the northern part of South Australia growing on loam and clay loam in mulga communities. Also found in Western Australia, Northern territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Native. Common in South Australia. Uncommon in Queensland and New South Wales. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Annual herb to 25 cm high with stems branched; erect to ascending and covered in dense glandular hairs. Leaves oblanceolate to spathulate, to 70 mm long and 2.5 cm wide; bi- or tri-pinnatisect; covered in glandular hairs. Flower-heads axillary or terminating short lateral branches with a single white daisy flowers on a long stalk. Flowering between July and September. Fruits are white fluffy daisy-head. Seed embryo type is spathulate.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and November. Collect whole heads that are white and fluffy or collect just the seed by plucking it off with your fingers. Mature seeds are easily removed. Place the heads in a tray for a week to dry. Then pluck the seeds from the head with your finders. Viable seeds will be fat and brown. 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.