Elachanthus glaber Paul G.Wilson APNI* Description: Ascending, branched herb to 6 cm high with one long thin taproot. Leaves linear, 5–11 mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, the upper surface often chanelled along the midvein.
Leaves linear, yellow-green, 5–11 mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, the upper surface often chanelled along the midvein, both surfaces often with resin dots.
Flower heads obconical 4–6 mm long, involucral bracts 2.5–4.5 mm long, oblong, glabrous, green, apex minutely fringed. Outer florets very pale yellow, female, 10–18 in 2–3 rows, slightly shorter than the pappus. Inner florets sterile.
Achenes oblanceolate, c. 2.5 mm long,, slightly tapered at apex to an short neck, 5-ribbed, whitish sericeous between ribs, neck region glabrous and often with resin dots; pappus c. 15–20 scales, oblong, fimbriate, c. 3 mm long; abortive inner floret pappus united c. 1 mm long.
Flowering: August to October.
Distribution and occurrence: It is known in NSW, 75 km north-west of Wentworth and further north-west at Nanya Station; north-west Victoria and west of Port Augusta in South Australia. It is found in association with the Nulla Nulla and Scotia boinkas, and has a very similar ecology in that it is largely dependent on gypseous substrates with a relationship with saline brines in the underlying sediments.
NSW subdivisions: SFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. S.A.
I.R.K. Sluiter (2010) On the distribution, ecology and conservation status of three rare plant taxa Zygophyllum compressum, Elachanthus glaber and Eremophila crassifolia in southwestern New South Wales. I.R.K. Sluiter Cunninghamia 11(4)
Text by Louisa Murray Taxon concept: Eichler, H.(1965) Supplement J.M. Black's Flora of South Australia. Walsh, N.G. (1999) Flora of Victoria. Volume 4, p 881.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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