Plants of
South Australia
Asteridea athrixioides
Asteraceae
Wirewort
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Distribution by Herbarium region
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta

Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 2

Prior names

Athrixia athrixioides var. athrixioides

Panaetia athrixoides, orth.var.

Panaetia athrixioides

Asteridea athrixioides f. horripes

Asteridea athrixioides f. athrixioides

Athrixia tenella var. horripes

Athrixia athrixioides var. horripes

Etymology

Asteridea from the generic name Aster and the modern Latin suffix '-ideus' meaning similar to, alluding to the general appearance of the type species to the genus Aster. Athrixioides meaning resembling the genus Atrixia.

Distribution and status

Found across the central part of South Australia growing on calcareous, sandy or clayey soils in saline or alluvial flats, undulating plains and rocky hills. Also found in Western Australia and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Ascending to erect annual herb to 20 cm high; branches with scattered cottony and scale-like hairs. Leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate to 40 mm long and 3 mm wide; margin recurved, pubescent above, cobwebby below. Single flower on a long reddish stalk with bright-yellow daisy flower. Flowering between July and November. Fruits are brown daisy head. Seed embryo type is spathulate fully developed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between September and January. Pick by hand mature heads that are turning brown and contain semi-hard brown seed inside. Place the heads in a tray to dry for 1-2 weeks. Then rub the heads gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.