Adelaide

Arkaroola

Ceduna

Coober Pedy

Hawker

Innamincka

Marla

Marree

Mount Gambier

Oodnadatta

Renmark

Wudinna

Keith

Yunta

Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 4

Prior names

Gentiana filiformis

Microcala filiformis

Common names

Slender Cicendia

Etymology

Cicendia was recorded by Dioscorides, supposedly from ancient Tuscany for an unknown plant of the family. Filiformis from the Latin 'fili' meaning thread-like and 'formis' meaning form or shape; alluding to the shape of the leaf.

Distribution and status

Found on Kangaroo Island, southern Mount Lofty Ranges and the lower South-east in South Australia, growing in moist places. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Introduced. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Murray, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Tiny slender annual herb to 15 cm high with few-branches. Leaves linear to narrow-lanceolate, to 15 mm long and 2 mm wide, those at the base largest, but often withered at flowering. Flowers 1 to several, on erect stalk, yellow. Flowering between September and November. Fruits are brown ovoid capsule to 4 mm long, containing numerous seeds. Seed embryo type is spatulate under-developed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between November and December. Collect mature capsules as they dry off and turn brown. They should contain hard brown seeds inside. Place the capsules in a tray for a week. Then rub the capsules with your fingers to dislodge all 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.