Common names
De Mole River Correa
Hindmarsh Correa
Etymology
Correa named after Jose Francisco Correa de Serra (1751-1823), a Portuguese botanist. Calycina from the Greek 'kalux' meaning case of bud, husk; referring to its persistent (or conspicuous) calyx. Halmaturina is derived from Halmaturus, a generic name once applied to kangaroos, and is from the Greek 'halme' meaning a leap or bound, and commonly used as an epithet for species from Kangaroo Island.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and found only in the De Mole River area on Kangaroo Island, growing along the river banks in deep damp soil overlying shale in Eucalyptus cladocalyx forest. Native. Very rare in South Australia.
Herbarium region: Kangaroo Island
NRM region: Kangaroo Island
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Tall dense shrub to 3 m high and 2 m wide with stems covered in dense strongly rusty-flocculose (small egg-shaped lobe). Leaves oblong-elliptic, to 4 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, margin slightly recurved, obtuse, scabridulous above, densely fawn- to rusty-stellate-hairy below. Inflorescence solitary on lateral or axillary branchlets with tubular, green often darkening to mauve flowers, calyx lobes lanceolate-acuminate. This variety differ from the other variety found in South Australia, Correa calycina var. calycina which have sparsely to moderately dense stellate-hairs on the underside of the leaves rather than dense stellate-hairs. Flowering between October and March. Fruits are pale brown capsule with 1- 4 segments enclose by the sepals. Seeds are dark brown mottled reniform seed to 4.3 mm long and 2.3 mm wide, with a smooth surface. Seed embryo type is linear fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between January and May. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning a pale straw colour and contain hard seeds, either by hands or place small breathable bags over immature capsules to collect seed. Capsules maybe hard to see as it is enclose by the green sepals. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for a weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Be very careful as the seed coat is thin and easily damaged. 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. This species has morphophysiological dormancy and can be difficult to germinate.
Fire Response
Obligate re-seeder, tiny seedlings noted emerging in fire scars.
Longevity: >20 years
Time to flowering: 4 to 5 years
Recovery work
In 2020-2021 this species was assessed post-fire in 1 year old fire scars. Further populations will be assessed and seeds collected on Kangaroo Island in 2021–2022. Germination screening testing the response to fire cues will be undertaken in 2021.This project work was undertaken with funding awarded under Greening Australia's Project Phoenix.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA | 680 (4.44 g) | 30+ | 12-Dec-2016 | DJD3557 Kangaroo Island | 28-Jun-2021 | 92% | -18°C |
BGA | 157 (0.945 g) | 6 | 16-Jun-2021 | JRG784 Kangaroo Island | 7-Jul-2022 | N/C | -18°C |