Common names
Granite Mudwort
Etymology
Limosella from diminutive of the Latin 'limosus' meaning muddy; alluding to the habitat and size of the plant. Granitica means to grow in granite crevices; referring to the the species habitat in granite rockholes.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and restricted to granite outcrops on central Eyre Peninsula, growing in fine silt in granite rockholes. Native. Very rare in South Australia.
Herbarium region: Eyre Peninsula
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Aquatic perennial herb, occasionally with a conspicuous stolon. Leaves to 80 mm long, with the blade often floating on the surface of the water. Leaf blade obovate to 20 mm long and 4.5 mm wide, attenuated at the base and rounded at the apex. The flower stalks to 22 mm long. Calyx to 3 mm long, red-purple, the corolla white, anthers black with white pollen. Flowering between September and October. Fruits are dark brown globular capsule to 4.8 mm long and 3.5 mm wide, downturned into the silt. Seeds are brown narrow oblong seed to 0.75 mm long and 0.25 mm wide, deep reticulated surface. Seed embryo type is spatulate fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and November. Collect mature capsules, turning brown with hard seeds. May have to wait till the water have evaporated. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for a week. Then rub the capsules gently with your fingers or a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds from the capsules. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Be careful as the seeds are very small. Seeds should be oblong, shiny brown. 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. From one collection, the seed viability was high, at 100%.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSB | 2,800 (0.18 g) | 50+ | 5-Nov-2005 | DJD193 Eyre Peninsula | |||
BGA | 8,900 (0.43 g) | 100+ | 10-Jan-2019 | TST1408 Eyre Peninsula | 24-Apr-2019 | 100% | -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 2,000 (0.096 g) | 2-Nov-2005 | DJD168 Eyre Peninsula | 1-May-2019 | 100% | -18°C | |
BGA | 14,200 (0.78 g) | 50 | 1-Jul-2019 | TST1408 Eyre Peninsula | 24-Jun-2020 | 100% | -18°C, -80°C |