Botanical art
Prior names
Allenia blackiana var. microphylla
Micrantheum demissum var. microphyllum
Allenia blackiana
Common names
Dwarf Micrantheum
Etymology
Micrantheum, from the Greek 'mikros', meaning small and 'anthos', meaning flower. Demissum, from the Latin 'demissus', meaning humble, low-lying or drooping, possible referring to the species' dwarf habit.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and found on the southern Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the southern Mount Lofty Ranges,growing in drier woodlands or heathlands. Native. Rare in South Australia.
Herbarium regions: Eyre Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Dwarf dense shrubs 30 cm tall, with slender hairy stems. Leaves on very short stalk, arranged in 3's (rarely in 4's or 5's);lanceolate to ovate, to 8 mm long and 3.5 mm wide, flat; smooth above with margins thickened with stiff long and short white hairs. Inflorescence axillary, with small pale pink flowers. Flowering between April and October. Fruits are red ovoid capsule to 7 mm long with 2-cells, each with 1 seed; glabrous. Seed embryo type is spatulate, fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between August and November. Collect individual capsules by hand, that are plump, red and contain dark, hard seed. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then gently rub the capsules with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieves 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 | 1,100 (6.15 g) | 14-Dec-2005 | DJD322 Southern Lofty |