Neue Denkschr. Schweiz. Naturf. Ges. 41 (1): 310 (1906) APNI
Taxonomic status:Accepted
Occurrence status:Present
Establishment means:Native
Threat status:EPBC: vulnerable (VU); Victoria: endangered (e); listed in Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
Perennial herb to 30 cm high; stems erect, tangled, small branches spinescent, covered with spreading or deflexed hairs. Basal leaves pinnately lobed, to 12 cm long; stem leaves becoming smaller, lanceolate to narrowly tapering, toothed or entire, auriculate, hairy. Inflorescence a raceme terminated by a spine. Sepals c. 0.8 mm long; petals reduced, linear; stamens 2; stigma subsessile. Fruit ovate, elliptic or obovate, 3.5–4.5 mm long, 2.5–3 mm wide, glabrous, wings narrow, forming small apical notch; pedicels 2–4 mm long, hairy above, less so below. Flowers spring–autumn.
GGr, HNF, OtP, VVP, WaP. Also WA (where possibly introduced), NSW. Mostly on heavy clay soil near salt lakes on volcanic plain, but with outlying records from near Lake Omeo (in 1940 &1981) and the Grampians (in 1893).
Note that grazing may lead to spine-like remnants on other species. Such artefacts were used to distinguish Lepidium dubium, now referable to L. hyssopifolium.
| Bioregion | Occurrence status | Establishment means | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | present | native | |
| Otway Plain | present | native | |
| Warrnambool Plain | present | native | |
| Greater Grampians | present | native | |
| Highlands-Northern Fall | present | native |
| State |
|---|
| Western Australia |
| New South Wales |
| Victoria |
