Dysphania platycarpa - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

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. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Dysphania platycarpa

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 01 Nov 2022

Description

Prostrate annual with simple or glandular hairs, and numerous slender stems arising from the base. The leaves are slightly fleshy and almost hairless, 5-10 mm long, rounded at the tip. Flowerhead a spike-like arrangement of dense, small compact clusters, each about 2.5 mm in diameter. Seed erect, about 0.4 mm long, dull reddish-brown, flower segments and seeds shed separately.

Dysphania platycarpa is distinguished by the flower heads in tight clusters in the space between leaf and stem, and the strongly flattened, often slightly twisted, triangular seeds.

Distribution

Found only in the far north-western plains of NSW in the Broken Hill district. Localities include Sturt NP and Yantara Lake. Distributed Australia-wide in extreme western NSW, south-western Qld, central and eastern SA, west-central WA and the south-eastern NT.

Habitat and ecology

Grows on heavy soils near ephemeral water, generally in clay or mud by fresh water. Recorded in Sturt National Park from previously flooded flats within the sandplain. Interstate habitats include claypan margins, sand above the Samphire level of a flooded clay flat, and in Gidgee scrub.
Flowering time is January to August.
Plant abundance is recorded as common in populations.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Grazing, trampling and pugging (at heavily utilised, low-lying, seasonally flooded depression habitats).
Clearing and cropping of habitat (with artificial flooding regimes and salination).

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)
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
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)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Core Ranges	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Sturt Stony Desert	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Known	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields	Strzelecki Desert	Known	None

Related information

NSW Flora Online - Dysphania platycarpa

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