Eriocaulon scariosum Sm. APNI* 
Description: Small tufted herb, 3.5–30 cm high.
Leaves 1.5–8 cm long, 1.5–2 mm wide.
Inflorescence semiglobose to globose, 4–6 mm diam., a mixture of male and female flowers, or sometimes predominantly male or female. Scape to 30 cm long. Bracts with inner surface glabrous; outer bracts obovate, scarious, soon ± concealed on older inflorescences, outer surface glabrous; inner bracts obovate to spathulate, greyish, outer surface with short white hairs towards apex on outer surface. Perianth hairy. Male flowers stipitate; outer tepals 3, one tepal linear, other tepals spathulate, sometimes fused at margins; inner perianth shortly tubular, lobes 3, minute, each appressed to stamens; stamens 6. Female flowers with 2 or 3 irregular outer tepals, one tepal linear or absent, others oblong-spathulate, dark brown to black; inner tepals 3, inserted above on floral axis, narrow-oblong to spathulate, white, densely hairy on both surfaces; ovary sessile.
Seeds 0.4–0.5 mm long, with more or less isodiametric outline of epidermal cells obvious at maturity.
Flowering: January–June.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in bog communities and drainage areas, often in running water; inland to Gulgong and Pilliga areas.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by B.J. Conn (1993); edited KL Wilson (Feb 2011, 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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