Citation: Hieron., Abh. Naturf Ges. Halle 12:210 (1873).

Synonymy: Alepyrum polygynum R. Br., Prod. F1. Nov. Holl. 253 (1810).

Common name: Wiry centrolepis.

Description:
Annual herb 1.5-6 cm high, forming small scattered tufts, dull-green becoming red-brown after flowering; leaves crowded, linear-subulate, acute or mucronate, terete, 4-12 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide, rigid, recurved, glabrous; innermost leaf reduced to an obtuse scarious-hyaline sheath.

Scapes terete, filiform, 1-5 cm long, glabrous; head terete, cylindrical, 3-5 mm long, c. 1 mm wide; primary bracts opposite, remaining almost closed, with dark-brown cartilaginous bases, the outer bract with a recurved subulate lamina 3-10 mm long, the inner one acute without a lamina; pseudanthia 1 or 2, bisexual, the stamen often fused to the pseudanthium axis; secondary bracts absent, or rarely represented by 1 minute scarious scale; female florets 6-26 per pseudanthium; styles connate at the base only.

Seed c. 0.5 mm long.

Distribution:  In mallee, scrub, heath and woodland on sand and other infertile soils. S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W. Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Conservation status: native Flowering time: July — Nov.

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