Plants of
South Australia
Waitzia acuminata var. acuminata
Asteraceae
Orange Immortelle
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
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

Waitzia corymbosa

Etymology

Waitzia name after Karl Friedrich Waitz (1774-1848), a privy councillor of the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg. Acuminata from the Latin 'acuminatus' meaning pointed or sharpened; referring to the lanceoate bracts.

Distribution and status

Found across most parts of South Australia except in the south-east and north-east corners, growing in mulga and mallee, usually on red sand dunes. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Common inn South Australia. Uncommon in Queensland. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Murray, South Eastern
NRM regions: Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual herb to 50 cm high with stems erect to ascending, numerous from the base, unbranched, brown, pubescent. Basal leaves narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic, subacute, to 11 cm long, often absent at flowering, stem leaves narrowly lanceolate to linear, acute, to 70 mm long and 5 mm wide, sparsely cobwebby to pubescent, with recurved margins. Flowers loose clusters at end of stalk with reddish-orange to golden-yellow papery daisy flowers. Flowering between July and October. Fruits are yellow-brown daisy head. Seed embryo type is spatulate.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds during January, November. Collect whole heads that are brown or collect seeds that are easily removed from the head. Place the heads in a tray for a week to dry. Then rub the heads gently with your hands to dislodge the seeds. 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. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.

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