Actites megalocarpus

(Hook.f.) Lander Dune Thistle
Telopea 1: 130 (1976)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native

Erect or ascending herb to 60 cm high, often clump-forming. Lower leaves crowded, oblanceolate to elliptic, 5–10 cm long, 1.5–3.5 cm wide, acute or obtuse, margins entire to shallowly sinuate and toothed; upper leaves elliptic to lanceolate in outline, 5–20 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, acute, base auriculate, margins sinuate to pinnatisect, toothed. Capitula 1–2 cm diam.; involucral bracts to c. 20 mm long; outer bracts with a row of fleshy spines near base. Ligules 6–10 mm long. Cypselas 4–8 mm long, glabrous; pappus 7–13 mm long. Flowers mainly Sep.–Mar.

GleP, Brid, VVP, GipP, OtP, WaP, EGL, WPro, OtR, Strz. Also WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. Locally common on dunes and cliffs of exposed coasts.

Created by: Daniel Ohlsen, 4 Aug. 2016
Updated by: Val Stajsic, 12 Feb. 2019
Actites megalocarpus (hero image) Spinning
Actites megalocarpus (distribution map) Spinning