Botanical art
Prior names
Parakeelya calyptrata
Calandrinia dipetala
Common names
Small-leaf Parakeelya
Pink Purslane
Small Parakeelya
Etymology
Calandrinia named after Jean-Louis Calandrini (1703-1758), a Swiss scientist, professor of mathematics and philosophy. Calyptrata from the Latin 'calyptratus' meaning bearing a cap-like covering, possibly referring to the persistent sepals around the capsules.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern part of South Australia except the lower South-east, growing in sandy and gravelly soils, often associated with granite. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Prostrate, often reddish herb with stems to 20 cm long. Leaves basal and on lower part of flowering stems, alternate, sessile, oblanceolate to oblong to 3.5 cm long and 7 mm wide. Inflorescence open spike with pale pink flowers, sepals broad-ovate, persistent, petals 5, obovate to elliptic. Flowering between August to October. Fruits are reddish-brown ovoid capsule to 3.6 mm long, just exceeding the sepals, with 3 valves splitting at the apex and releasing numerous seeds. Seeds are shiny reddish-brown reniform seed to 0.8 mm long and 0.7 mm wide, with a mesh-like surface. Seed embryo type is peripheral.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and December. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning a red-brown 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. Seed viability is usually high.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSB | 2,400 (0.19 g) | 17-Nov-2005 | DJD470 South Eastern | ||||
BGA | 51,000 (2.81 g) | 50 | 1-Oct-2007 | RJB74764 South Eastern | 19-Sep-2008 | 90% | -18°C |