Citation: Less., Linnaea 5:148 (1830).

Synonymy: Sphaeromorphaea petiolaris DC., Prod. 6:140 (1838).

Common name: Spreading nut-heads.

Description:
Low-growing aromatic annual or perennial herb; stems prostrate to ascending, sparsely branched, 5-30 cm long; leaves alternate, cuneate to obovate with attenuate petiole-like bases, 1-6 cm long, 4-15 mm wide, shallowly serrate or crenate, densely pubescent with short crisped hairs to subglabrous.

Capitula mostly axillary, solitary, sessile to shortly pedunculate, broadly hemispherical, 4-7 mm diam., yellowish-green, heterogamous; involucre very broadly cup-shaped; bracts obovate, obtuse, glabrous; female florets very numerous, 7- or 8-seriate; corolla c. 1 mm long, glandular.

Achene cylindrical, 1-1.5 mm long, 8-10-ribbed, glandular, with a few bristles near the base; bisexual florets fewer, fertile, 4-merous; corolla exceeding female florets, glandular, yellowish, with obtuse lobes; achenes similar to those of outer florets or slightly wider; pappus a small scarious rim, rarely absent from the female florets.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 685.

Distribution:  Occurs on temporarily wet ground.   Apparently introduced in Taiwan. Conservation status: native Flowering time: most of the year.

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