Platysace ericoides
(Sieber ex Spreng.) C.Norman Heath PlatysaceWeakly erect, diffuse subshrub to 50 cm high; stems scabrous to hispid. Leaves linear to narrowly oblong or narrowly elliptic, 5–30 mm long, 0.5–2.5 mm wide, acute, shortly mucronate, hispid, base attenuate; petiole to 0.5 mm long. Umbels 5–22 mm diam.; peduncle 5–15(–50) mm long; rays 3–10, 1.5–2.5(–11) mm long; bracts narrow-elliptic, to 2.5 mm long; bracteoles linear, to 1.5 mm long; umbellules 2–8(–15)-flowered. Petals white or cream. Fruit c. 2 mm long and wide, furrowed at rib, slightly tuberculate between ribs, smooth at mericarp junction. Flowers Aug.–Dec.
GipP, EGL, EGU, HSF. Also Qld, NSW. In Victoria confined to the coastal plain and foothills mostly between Moe and Orbost, usually occurring in dryish forest, often with shallow, rocky soils.
A variable species in need of revision. Victorian plants differ from those of New South Wales and Queensland by having more tuberculate mericarps. Some specimens appear intermediate between P. ericoides or P. lanceolata (e.g. around Marlo, Stratford, Buchan and Bairnsdale) and comprehensive collections are needed.
Duretto, M.F. (1999). Apiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 256–258. Inkata Press, Melbourne.