Sclerolaena intricata
(R.H.Anderson) A.J.ScottMuch-branched, rounded shrub to c. 40 cm high, branches glabrous except for cottony axils. Leaves often rather sparse, linear, 10–15 mm long, flat or slightly concave on upper surface, acute at apex, narrowly winged and cottony at base, otherwise glabrous. Fruiting perianth glabrous except for limb; tube hard, 3–6 mm long, obliquely attached and decurrent along branch, attachment concave; limb erect, 1–2 mm long, finely pubescent; spines 4 or 5, widely spreading or recurved, the 3 longer 7–15 mm long, the shorter adaxially placed and 1–5 mm long. Fruits Oct.-Nov (7 records).
MSB. Also NT, Qld, NSW, SA. Confined to the far north-west of the state, north-west of Lake Cullulleraine (e.g. Neds Corner, Lake Wallawalla). Usually a colonising species favouring heavy soils, often in proximity to communities that are subject to least some flooding or roadsides receiving runoff.
Sclerolaena articulata, to which Victorian plants of this species were formerly assigned, was segregated from S. intricata in having 3 rather than 4 or 5 spines on the fruiting perianth. This feature has been shown to be unreliable and the earlier name (S. intricata) adopted for plants of either species.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Chenopodiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 129–199. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
