Eriocaulon australe R.Br. APNI* Synonyms: Eriocaulon australis APNI*
Description: Tufted herb, 33–100 cm high.
Leaves 20–60 cm long, 2–8 mm wide.
Inflorescence semiglobose to depressed-globose at maturity, 7–10 mm diam., usually a ± equal mixture of male and female flowers or one sex predominating. Scape 33–100 cm long. Bracts glabrous or apically with a very short, dense, white persistent tomentum; outer bracts broadly angular-obovate; ± flat to slight curved; inner bracts similar to outer bracts. Male flowers stipitate; outer tepals 3, two lateral tepals truncate-obovate, 2.5–3 mm long, c. 0.5 mm wide, conduplicate, other tepals linear; inner tepals fused into an obconical tube much longer than the lobes, lobes 3, minute, each appressed to stamens; with a few white hairs towards apex; stamens 3–6. Female flowers with 3 outer irregular tepals, two lateral tepals boat-shaped and lacerate towards apex, other one often narrow-ovate and shorter than laterals; inner tepals 3, ± linear with broader base; ovary sessile.
Seeds 0.7–0.8 mm long, with shortly transversely elongated outline of epidermal cells obvious at maturity.
Flowering: throughout year, especially summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in sandy wet heath and swampy areas; coastal districts north from Laurieton.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld N.T.
Text by B. J. Conn (1993); edited KL Wilson (Sept 2021) Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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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