Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Dysphania plantaginella
Profile last updated:
01 Nov 2022
Description
Annual herb with prostrate or ascending stems to about 20 cm high. Leaves elliptic, to about 20 mm long, rounded at the tip, sparsely hairy. Flowerhead a spike-like arrangement of dense, small compact clusters, about 10-15 cm long. Seeds rounded, about 0.5 mm long, smooth, reddish-brown, falling enclosed within the flower segments with stalk attached. Plants are pungent-smelling.
Distribution
Found in both coastal and inland areas of Australia but confined to the south-western plains of NSW. It has been recorded there from Marlow Station NNW of Conoble railway siding.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in sandy areas, either coastal or on the margin of waterholes and inland salt lakes. Also grows in disturbed sites, including the strandline of previous water levels on the side of the gypsum mine at Marlow Station, among old rabbit warrens, on roadsides and even in the middle of tracks on red sandy soils. Interstate habitats include river banks, moist edges of a saline lake, dry river beds, flood channels and open depression on sandplains.
- Associated species include Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus microtheca, Acacia stenophylla, Nitraria billardierei and Spinifex.
- Flowering times are January to April, August and September. Also said to flower and fruit from June to September.
- The species is usually common in populations, however it has also been recorded occurring as single plants.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Grazing, trampling and pugging (at waterholes and moist saline sites).
- Clearing, grazing and possibly cropping of inland saltlake habitats.
- Habitat areas are vulnerable to artificial flooding regimes and salination. The plants themselves may be dependent on appropriate flooding and rainfall events.
- Lack of information on the species in NSW to inform a conservation management strategy.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Protect existing populations from stock with the construction of appropriate fencing.
- No further loss of extant populations.
- Survey for new populations
Information sources
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Jacobs, S.W.L. (1990) Dysphania. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. New South Wales University Press: Sydney.
- Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part I. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Mueller, F.J.H. von (1858) Dysphania plantaginella F. Muell. Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 1: 61.
- Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
- Wheeler, J.R. (ed.) (1992) Flora of the Kimberley Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth)
- Wilson, P.G. (1983) A taxonomic revision of the tribe Chenopodieae (Chenopodiaceae) in Australia. Nuytsia 4(2): 135-262.
- Wilson, P.G. (1984) Chenopodiaceae. In George, A.S. (ed.) Flora of Australia vol. 4. (Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra)
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