Citation: Smith ex R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 590 (1810).

Synonymy: B. sericea Smith ex R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 590 (1810).

Common name: Blue pincushion.

Description:
Leaves all in a basal cluster, spreading, elliptic to spathulate, attenuate and petiole-like at the base, acute to subacute, entire, 4-10 cm long, 0.5-1.8 cm wide, green and silky-villous on both surfaces; stem usually very short, densely branched at ground level, villous, sheathed by the leaf bases; scapes numerous, terminal, erect or ascending, 6-32 cm long, unbranched, naked, appressed-pubescent; capitulum hemispherical, 1.4-2.4 cm diam.; outer involucral bracts ovate to elliptic, 3.5-8 mm long, silky-villous; inner bracts shorter, oblanceolate to oblong; bracteoles oblong, 4-5 mm long, glabrous or the outer 2 hairy; sepals 3-4 mm long, equal to the corolla tube; lobes narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, 3-4 mm long; style exserted c. 3 mm, with a glabrous yellow indusium c. 1 mm long.

Fruiting calyx resembling a miniature shuttlecock, with the hypanthium c. 3 mm long, densely sericeous, buff.

Image source: fig. 628a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cochrane et al. (1968) Flowers and plants of Victoria, fig. 364.

Distribution:  In dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and open sand dune communities. S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, NL, SL, SE.   All States. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Oct. — Dec. (in southern regions).

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available