Botanical art
Prior names
Genethyllis micropetala
Common names
Small Darwinia
Etymology
Darwinia named after Dr Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802), an English physician, poet and grandfather of the great naturalist, Charles Darwin. Micropetala from the Greek 'mikros' meaning small and 'petalum' meaning petal, referring to the species' small flowers.
Distribution and status
Found on Kangaroo Island and the South-East in South Australia, growing in swales and around the edges of lakes, often with Melaleuca brevifolia. Also found in Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Rare in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Small erect wiry shrub to 50 cm high. Leaves grey-green, opposite, to 3 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; linear and triquetrous to obovate with a concave-convex, warty surface. Inflorescence in small terminal compound head with white flowers borne in upper leaf axils . Flowering between June and October. Fruits are small, brown nut-like fruit enclosed in the hypanthium and crowned by persistent sepals and petals.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and December. Collect fruit heads that are darkening, turning brown and drying off. Rub the flower parts in your palm to see if there is any seed. Place the heads in a tray and leave to dry for a week. Then rub the heads with your hands or a rubber bung 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.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSB | 19,900 (11.54 g) | 50+ | 23-Jan-2007 | TST161 Kangaroo Island |
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.