Plants of
South Australia
Angianthus tomentosus
Asteraceae
Hairy Cup-flower,
Hairy Angianthus
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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: 4

Prior names

Cassinia aurea

Common names

Hairy Cup-flower

Hairy Angianthus

Etymology

Angianthus from the Greek 'angeion' meaning a vessel or cup and 'anthos' meaning flower, referring to the cup formed by the pappus scales in Angianthuis tomentosus. Tomentosus from the Latin 'tomentum' meaning wool, hair, referring to the plant covered in cobweb or white-tomentose hairs.

Distribution and status

Found across the central part of South Australia, growing in coastal scrub, mallee, woodland and saline depressions. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Erect or ascending annual herb to 45 cm high with numerous stems arising from the base, covered in cobwebby to white-tomentose hairs. Leaves alternate, flat, oblanceolate, to 5 cm long and 5 mm wide, cobwebby, greyish-green. Flower-heads ellipsoid to narrow-ovoid, to 50 mm long and 11 mm diameter with yellow ray-less daisy flowers. Flowering between August and December. Fruits are dense, dry daisy-heads. Seeds are light brown, pyramid-shaped achenes to 0.6 mm long, with 2 or 3 bristles. Seed embryo type is spathulate fully developed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between October and February. Collect heads that are hard, drying off and turning pale brown. Place the heads in a tray for a week to dry. Then rub the heads gently with your hands to dislodge the seeds. Be carefully as the seeds are very small. Viable seeds will be dark and hard. 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. Seed viability is usually high. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.