Roepera ammophila
(F.Muell.) Beier & Thulin Sand TwinleafErect or ascending, much-branched annual herb 10–30 cm high; stems spreading and ascending. Leaves 15–45 mm long, green; leaflets articulate at base, linear-oblong, 10–25 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, fleshy, apex truncate or sometimes rounded or emarginate; common petiole flattened. Sepals 4, ovate, 1.5–3 mm long, deflexed or spreading in fruit; petals 4, narrow-obovate to narrow-elliptic, 1.5–4 mm long, apex rounded or pointed, white; stamens 4, filaments filiform, hardly winged at base. Fruiting pedicels 2–4 mm long; fruit a 4-angled loculicidal capsule, campanulate to turbinate, 5–7 mm long, drooping, truncate at apex with a short point; seeds usually 3 or 4 per cell. Flowers mostly Aug.–Nov.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF. Also SA, NSW. In Victoria, confined to the north-west where found in a variety of habitats, mostly on sand and sandy loams but also on heavier clay soils.
The mapped distribution of R. ammophila probably includes some older, unvouchered records attributable to the more recently described R. similis. The latter species is readily distinguished by its 8 stamens and only 1 or 2 seeds per cell.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Zygophyllaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 198–207. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
