Botanical art
Common names
Pink Eyes
Pink-bells
Etymology
Tetratheca from the Greek 'tetra' meaning four; and 'theke' meaning case; referring to the 4 anther-loculi, the anthers are often four-lobed or four-celled. Ciliata from the Latin 'cilium' meaning eye-lash; possibly referring to the ovary covered with dense short white hairs.
Distribution and status
Found in the South-east in South Australia, growing in a variety of habitat. Also found in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Common in South Australia. Uncommon in Tasmania. Common in the other states.
Herbarium region: South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Slender shrub to 1 m high with stems glabrous and minutely tuberculate to densely hairy with erect hairs. Leaves alternate, opposite or in regular whorls of 3–5, narrow-elliptic to orbicular, to 20 mm long and 15 mm wide, acute or obtuse, margins flat to revolute, usually undulate, both surfaces glabrous or with a few fine, erect hairs particularly near margins. Inflorescences in group of 1–3 deep lilac-pink or occasionally white bell-shaped flowers, sepals broad-ovate with upper part strongly reflexed, petals obovate, ovary velvety. Flowering between August and November. Fruits are brown broad ovoid capsule to 8 mm long. Seeds are brown ovoid seed to 4 mm long and 2 mm wide, covered in long hairs and with a cream appendage.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and January. Collect maturing capsules those that are fat, turning a pale brown and contain hard dark seeds. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for a week. Then rub the dried 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.