Plants of
South Australia
Dampiera rosmarinifolia
Goodeniaceae
Native Rosemary,
Rosemary Dampiera
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
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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

Common names

Native Rosemary

Rosemary Dampiera

Etymology

Dampiera named after William Dampier (1652-1715), an English buccaneer and explorer, who collected botanical specimens on the north-west coast of Australia in 1699 as commander of H.M.S. Roebuck. Rosmarinifolia Having leaves like Rosemary

Distribution and status

Found in southern part of South Australia from the Eyre Peninsula and Flinders Ranges to the South-east, growing in mallee on sandy soils. Also found in Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, 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 decumbent perennial subshrub to 60 cm with terete, slightly ribbed stems covered in white- or grey-tomentose hairs, often becoming smooth with age. Leaves sessile, linear to linear-oblong, to 26 mm long and 5 mm wide, often crowded in fascicles, glabrous and glossy above, lower surface tomentose but margins revolute, usually concealing lower surface. Inflorescence in the upper axils with 1-3 blue-violet to pink flowers. Sepals to 1.5 mm long, tomentose. Corolla to 14 mm long, blue-violet or pink inside, white- and grey- to black-tomentose outside. Fruit obovoid, 2–4 mm long, grey-tomentose. This species is similar to D.dysantha but can be distinguished by its leaves which are revolute usually concealing the underside and the white- and grey- to black hairs on the corolla. Flowering between August and October. Fruits obovoid to 4 mm long, covered in grey hairs. Seed embryo type is spatulate.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between September and December. Collect maturing fruits, those that are fat and contain hard seeds inside. Collecting good mature fruits will be time consuming as few fruits may be produced. Place the fruit in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the fruits gently with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate any 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 species tends to produce very few viable seeds.