Botanical art
Prior names
Hibbertia stricta, partly
Hibbertia sp. Glabriuscula (D.J.Whibley 9012), partly
Hibbertia stricta var. glabriuscula, partly
Common names
Smooth Guinea-flower
Etymology
Hibbertia, named after George Hibbert (1757-1837), a London merchant who maintained a private botanic garden at Chelsea. Devitata from Latin meaning shunned, an allusion to this species being long known from South Australia, but defying being named for 140 years.
Distribution and status
Found scattered across the southern part of South Australia from the Eyre Peninsula, York Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Mt. Lofty Ranges to the South-east, growing in a range of habitats varying from gravelly slopes to deep sandy soils and usually associated with dry scrub or open woodland, especially mallee. Also found in Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Eyre Peninsula, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Shrublets up to 80 cm tall, sparse to often much branched, usually stiffly erect; branches with pronounced leaf bases continued in decurrent flanges, puberulous to glabrescent, rarely pubescent or tomentose. The species differs from typical forms of H. stricta in having shorter leaves (rarely more than 10 mm long) with a markedly bulging central vein and densely hairy ovaries. It is very similar to H. riparia which it can co-occur but can be distinguished by the absence of distinct tufts of long hair in the axils (intrapetiolar) of the leaves, present in H. riparia; occasional presence of hooked simple hairs on the leaves and especially the outer calyx, whereas straight simple hairs are common in H. riparia; a broad central leaf vein usually bulging well above the revolute margins as opposed to more or less touching the revolute margins; apically acute to pointed outer calyx lobes with a distinct central ridge on at least the upper half compared to bluntly acute and without ridge on the upper half; 1 (–3) longer central anther(s), inclining over and leaning on the ovaries between the styles as opposed to the similar number of erect stamens not touching the ovaries in H. riparia.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and February. Collect mature capsules that are turning a pale straw-colour and contain brown seeds. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then rub the capsules 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. This genus tends to have low seed viability. This species has morpho-physiological dormancy and can be difficult to germinate.