Botanical art
Common names
Rough-leaf Common Correa
Common Correa
Etymology
Correa named after Jose Francisco Correa de Serra (1751-1823), a Portuguese botanist. Reflexa means abruptly recurved, bent or curved downwards or backwards. Scabridula from the Latin 'scabridulus' which is the diminutive of 'scabridus' meaning minutely scabrid; referring to the rough upper surface of the leaves.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and the South-east in South Australia, growing in dry sclerophyll forest and heath on sandstone or coastal dunes. Also found in Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect or spreading shrub to 0.5 m high. Leaves coriaceous (leathery), ovate, to 15 mm long, rounded to slightly cordate at base, somewhat recurved and irregularly undulate on margin, scabridulous above, moderately densely rusty-stellate-hairy below. Inflorescence erect or pendent, not obviously clasped by foliaceous bracts with trumpet-shaped, red to orange with paler lobes flowers and hairy calyxs. This variety differ from the other two varieties found in South Australia, Correa reflexa var. reflexa which have red with green tips or dull green, drooping flowers clasped between two reflexed foliaceous bracts and C. reflexa var. insularis which have green to yellow, erect to drooping flowers not obviously clasped by foliaceous bracts, rather than having red with green or pale lobes, erect to drooping flowers not clasped between reflexed foliaceous bracts and trumpet-shaped corolla in C. reflexa var. scabridula. Flowering between April and September. Fruits are brown capsule to 9 mm long enclose by the sepals. Seed embryo type is linear fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between July and October. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning brown 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 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.