Citation: I.M. Johnston, J. Arnold Arb. 35:42 (1954).

Synonymy: Lithospermum arvense L., Sp. Pl. 132 (1753).

Common name: Sheepweed, white ironweed, corn gromwell.

Description:
Annual herbs to 30 cm high, sparsely branched, with a distinct tap root, covered with long coarse hairs which are more or less appressed and with a scarcely broadened conical base; leaves at first opposite, petiolate, oblanceolate-spathulate, but mainly alternate, sessile, oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic to rarely lanceolate on or below the inflorescence, 1-7 x 0.2-1.5 cm, obtuse or rounded, with a cuneate to subpetiolate base in basal leaves to subcordate on the inflorescence.

Inflorescence with 1-3 monochasia with widely spaced flowers on pedicels 1-2 mm long or to 4 mm when fruiting, subtended by leaf-like bracts; sepals scarcely connate basally; lobes linear, 4-6 mm or to 15 mm long when fruiting, acute; corolla tubular with lobes spreading, white to cream, 6-7 mm long, hairy outside, with hairy ridges along the middle of the petals in the corolla tube between the throat and the anthers, with a ring of nectary scales at the level of the ovary below the stamens; lobes oblong, 1-2 mm long, with a rounded apex; stamens inserted just below the middle of the corolla tube, with anthers sessile, ellipsoid, c. 1 mm long, with a short terminal-appendage; ovary 4-lobed, with a style inserted near the base, c. 1.5 mm long, with 2 subterminal stigmas and a short terminal appendage.

Mericarps with a ridged beak parallel with the style and bulging shoulders on either side, rugose with pointed tubercles, pale-brown.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 564.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: LE, NU, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.   Native to Europe and the Mediterranean to central Asia; introduced to East Asia, North and South America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Aug. — Oct.

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