Spyridium parvifolium, commonly known dusty miller,[2] is a flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae. It has dark green leaves and clusters of small, whitish flowers at the end of branches. It is widespread in eastern states of Australia.
| Dusty Miller | |
|---|---|
| |
| Prostrate form | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Spyridium |
| Species: | S. parvifolium
|
| Binomial name | |
| Spyridium parvifolium | |
Description
editSpyridium parvifolium is a low, spreading shrub to about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high with smaller branches thickly covered in soft, long, rusty coloured hairs. The dull green leaves are obovate, elliptic or orb shaped, 4–18 mm (0.16–0.71 in) long, 3–13 mm (0.12–0.51 in) wide, and the apex rounded or notched. The upper surface usually veined, densely covered with long, erect, rigid hairs to densely covered with short, soft, upright hairs. The lower surface thickly covered with whitish star-shaped hairs, sometimes simple, rusty hairs over the veins, margins flat to curved under, occasionally scalloped. The leaves near the flowers are densely covered with white, short, matted hairs on the upper surface, stipules brown, 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long, 3–13 mm (0.12–0.51 in) wide and with very fine hairs. The flowers are in small heads, whitish, woolly, and borne in leafy clusters in leaf axils at the end of branches. The flower clusters about 3 cm (1.2 in) wide and surrounded by cream-white floral leaves. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and the fruit about 3 mm (0.12 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editSpyridium parvifolium was first formally described in 1862 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[4][5] The specific epithet (parvifolium) means "small leaved".[6]
Distribution and habitat
editDusty miller grows on the tablelands and slopes in New South Wales south of Burrinjuck Dam and on the coast south of Twofold Bay. It also grows in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.[7]
Cultivation
editSpyridium parvifolium has a degree of frost and drought tolerance, and adapts well to most soils and positions with adequate drainage. A prostrate form with the cultivar name 'Austraflora Nimbus', spreads to 1 metre across and is suited to coastal gardens, rockeries and containers.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Spyridium parvifolium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Spyridium parvifolium". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Garden Victoria. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ Greig, Denise (1999). Field Guide to Australian Wildflowers. New Holland. ISBN 1864363347.
- ^ "Spyridium parvifolium". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1862). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 3(20) (3 ed.). p. 79.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 271. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ "Spyridium parvifolium". PlantNET-NSW flora online. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207154600.