A FLORA TREATMENT
OF
AUSTRALIAN
CENTROLEPIDACEAE
by D.A. Cooke
Small tufted annual or cushion-forming perennial herbs. Stems with condensed internodes, producing axillary
adventitious roots but never rhizomatous. Leaves crowded, all basal in annuals, imbricate along the stems in
perennials, with open sheathing bases and linear to subulate laminae; uppermost leaf reduced, usually to a
veinless sheathing cataphyll. Stomata paracytic. Inflorescence terminal, usually scapose, condensed compound
cymose, capitular within a pair of bracts or spike-like with distichous bracts, often containing shorter veinless
hyaline secondary bracts. Flowers minute, unisexual, anemophilous, often combined into pseudanthia. Perianth
absent. Male flower a solitary stamen; filament glabrous; anther dorsifixed, versatile, unilocular, dehiscing by
a slit. Female flower a solitary carpel; ovary unilocular, stipitate; ovule 1, pendulous, orthotropous; style terminal,
filiform, undivided, with stigmatic papillae along the adaxial side, persistent. Fruit a membranous 1-seeded,
follicle, usually dehiscing by an abaxial split. Seed endospermic; embryo minute, apical; testa membranous,
formed from inner integument. Germination epigeal.
Three genera comprising about 35 species have traditonally been placed in this family. However, they are now
known to represent a clade nested within the family Restionaceae, with a simplified structure associated with their
herbaceous and usually annual habit. The group is represented in Australia by all genera and 29 species. A few
species of Centrolepis are minor weeds, but they are otherwise of no economic importance.
The superficially similar genera Hydatella and Trithuria, formerly placed in this family, are now treated
as the family Hydatellaceae (Flora of Australia 45).
G.Heironymus, Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Centrolepidaceen. Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:115-222 (1873);
G.Bentham, Centrolepideae. Fl. Austral. 7:198-208 (1878); U.Hamann, Beitrag zur Embryologie der
Centrolepidaceae mit Bemerkungen Über den Bau der Blüten und Blütenstände und die systematische Stellung
der Familie. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 75(5):153-171 (1962).
KEY TO GENERA
1 Inflorescence spicate with 6-18 distichous bracts 1. APHELIA
1: Inflorescence capitular with 2 or 3 distichous bracts
2 Pseudanthia asymmetrical, of 1-many superposed carpels,
stamen solitary or absent 2. CENTROLEPIS
2: Pseudanthia symmetrical, of 2 collateral carpels,
stamens 2 or absent 3. GAIMARDIA
1. APHELIA
Aphelia R.Br., Prodr. 251 (1810); from the Greek aphles (simple), referring to the female flowers
reduced to solitary carpels.
Type: A. cyperoides R.Br.
Brizula Hieron., Botanische Zeitung 30:206 (1872). T: B. muelleri Hieron.
Small tufted herbaceous annuals. Hairs stiff, unbranched. Leaves all basal, 1-3-veined, with membranous to
hyaline open sheathing bases and linear to subulate laminae; ligule absent. Scape terminal, erect, terete, glabrous,
consisting of a single internode. Inflorescence a terminal laterally compressed spike; rachis short, flexuose,
bearing distichous herbaceous bracts enclosing sessile partial inflorescences or solitary flowers; primary bracts
1 or 2; distal bracts 6-18, imbricate, 3-veined, with hyaline margins, all similar, successively smaller, each
becoming inrolled around a fruit and deciduous with it. Male flower with a short secondary bract; filament
capillary. Female flower 1 in each distal bract. Fruit an indehiscent follicle. Seed fusiform.
A genus of 6 species, endemic to southern Australia.
D.A. Cooke, A Taxonomic Revision of Aphelia (Centrolepidaceae) in Australia. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 16:95-
109 (1995).
1 Scape decurved at apex; spike pendulous 2. A. nutans
1: Scape straight; spike erect or patent
2 Spike patent, asymmetrical; primary bract 1, erect
3 Distal bracts keelless; margins ciliolate 3. A. gracilis
3: Distal bracts with cristate keels; margins entire 6. A. drummondii
2: Spike erect, symmetrical; primary bracts 2, patent
4 Distal bracts pilose with scattered hairs,
becoming separated by growth of the rachis 1. A. cyperoides
4: Distal bracts with hairs restricted to the keel,
remaining compactly imbricate
5 Distal bracts ovate, tapering to prominent
mucros, with hyaline margins extending
about halfway to the apex 4. A. pumilio
5: Distal bracts broad-ovate, shortly apiculate,
with hyaline margins extending to the apex 5. A. brizula
1. Aphelia cyperoides R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810)
T: Oyster Harbour, King George Sound [W.A.], Dec. 1801, R. Brown; lecto: BM fide D. Cooke, op. cit.; syn:
MEL 535279, CANB 67858.
A. cyperoides var. minor Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:208 (1873). T: precise locality unknown [W.A.],
J. Drummond s.n.; holo: B n.v.; iso: MEL 577849.
Illustration: Cooke, op. cit. fig.1B,I; 2B.
Leaves 2- or 3-veined, 0.8 - 6 cm long, glabrous or strigose at base; lamina linear-subulate, keeled, c. 0.6 mm
wide. Cataphyll 2 - 10 mm long, acute to obtuse, rarely absent. Scape straight, 1 - 16 cm long. Spike erect,
asymmetric, triangular to rhomboid, 5 - 13 mm long, 5 - 12 mm wide, becoming loose. Primary bracts 2, patent,
unequal, 5 - 10 mm long, linear-subulate, glabrous or basally pilose, enclosing 1 or 2 male flowers and
sometimes 1 female flower. Distal bracts 5-14, lanceolate-cymbiform, acute, 3 - 6 mm long, each enclosing 0-1
male flower and 1 female flower; backs rounded, pilose except on midline; margins narrow, ciliolate. Secondary
bract subtending stamen lanceolate, c. 2 mm long. Anther 0.7 - 1.5 mm long. Secondary bract subtending ovary
lanceolate, entire or erose, 1 - 2 mm long. Seed 1.0 - 1.3 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A. from the Greenough River S to Albany and E to Cape Arid; grows in moist
open sites in heath, woodland, swamp margins and lithoseral moss beds. Flowers Sept. - Nov.
W.A.: Young River crossing 5 km N of Neds Corner, N.N. Donner 2813 (AD, PERTH); 8 km S Eneabba, R.
Hnatiuk 790062 (PERTH); c. 20 km S of Ongerup, K. Newbey 4509 (PERTH); Porongorup Ranges National
Park, R.D. Spencer 2 (MEL); between Cowaramup and Margaret River, D. Whibley 5049 (AD, PERTH).
2. Aphelia nutans J.D. Hook. ex Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:200 (1878)
Brizula nutans (J.D. Hook. ex Benth.) C. Gardner, Enum. Pl. Austr. Occ. 1: 17 (1933). T: W.A., J. Drummond
suppl. 84; holo: K
Illustration: Cooke, op. cit. fig.1E,J; 2E.
Leaves 1-veined, 3 - 11 mm long, glabrous; lamina linear-subulate, terete, c. 0.15 mm wide. Cataphyll obtuse,
c. 1 mm long. Scape abruptly recurved at apex, 0.9 - 3 cm long. Spike pendulous, symmetric, oblong-
lanceolate, 3 - 8 mm long, 2 - 2.5 mm wide, becoming loose. Primary bracts 2, patent, equal, broad-ovate,
cymbiform, acute, 1.2 - 1.6 mm long, glabrous, each enclosing 2-4 male flowers. Distal bracts 6-16, oblong,
obtuse, 1 - 1.8 mm long, each enclosing one female flower; backs rounded, smooth, glabrous; margins broad,
ciliolate. Secondary bract subtending stamen narrow-lanceolate, 0.3 - 0.5 mm long. Anther 0.5 - 0.7 mm long.
Secondary bract subtending ovary vestigial or absent. Seed c. 0.9 mm long.
Scattered and probably disjunct in south-western W.A.; grows in moist microhabitats such as moss swales and
swampy sands. Flowers Sept. - Oct.
W.A.: near Young River, 21 km NNW Stokes Inlet, Hj. Eichler 20348 (AD, CANB, PERTH); Yoongarillup,
R.D. Royce 3374 (PERTH); Tutanning Reserve, R.D. Royce 7653 (PERTH).
3. Aphelia gracilis Sonder, Linnaea 28:227 (1856)
Brizula gracilis (Sonder)Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:206 (1873). T: Australia felix [Western District],
Vic., F. Mueller; lecto: MEL 558047 fide D. Cooke, op. cit.; Echinsuga [Echunga], S.A., Nov. 1848, F.Mueller;
syn: MEL 577702 p.p.; Van Diemensland [Tas.], 1848, C. Stuart s.n.; syn: MEL.
A. gunnii J.D. Hook., Fl. Tasman. 2:75, t.138C (1858). T: Formosa, Tas., "1499", ex herb. R.C. Gunn; holo:
BM n.v.
Illustrations: J.D. Hooker, loc. cit.; G. Dashorst & J. Jessop, Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills t.77 (1990).
Leaves 1-veined, 1 - 2.6 cm long, glabrous; lamina linear, flattened, c. 0.2 mm wide. Cataphyll usually absent,
rarely 1 - 3 mm long, acute. Scape straight, 1.5 - 3.5 cm long. Spike patent, asymmetric, lanceolate-oblong,
2.5 - 5 mm long, 1.5 - 2.5 mm wide, becoming loose. Primary bract 1, erect, ovate, long-acuminate, 3 - 4 mm
long, glabrous, enclosing 1 or 2 male flowers and often 1 female flower. Distal bracts 4-8, ovate-cymbiform,
obtuse, 0.8 - 1.6 mm long, each enclosing 1 female flower; backs rounded, uniformly pilose; margins broad,
ciliolate. Secondary bract subtending stamen ovate, 1.5 - 2 mm long. Anther 0.6 - 0.7 mm long. Female flower
without secondary bract. Seed 0.7 - 0.9 mm long.
Occurs in S.A. south-east from Eyre Peninsula, the Western District to central coast and Murray Valley of Vic.;
localised in the Riverina of N.S.W. and the northern and eastern coasts of Tas. Grows on seasonally flooded
heavy soils. Flowers Oct. - Nov.
S.A.: Lenswood Research Centre, A.G. Spooner 6220 (AD); Rocky River, Kangaroo Is., J.R. Wheeler 1221 (AD).
Vic.: Little Desert S of Kaniva, A.C. Beauglehole 39694 (MEL); South Belgrave, T.B. Muir 6525 (MEL). Tas.:
South Esk River, 1848, C. Stuart (MEL).
4. Aphelia pumilio F.Muell. ex Sond., Linnaea 28:226 (1856)
Brizula pumilio (F.Muell. ex Sond.)Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:207 (1873). T: Inter montem Gambier
et sinum Rivoli Bay, S.A., F. Mueller lecto: MEL 558048 p.p., fide D. Cooke, op. cit.; versus Rivoli Bay, S.A.,
Oct. 1848, F. Mueller; syn: MEL 558048 p.p.; Brighton versus, S.A., Oct. 1852, F. Mueller; syn: MEL 1501518.
Illustration: G. Dashorst & J. Jessop, Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills t.77 (1990).
Leaves 1-veined, 1 - 2.3 cm long, glabrous; lamina linear-subulate, keeled, c. 0.5 mm wide. Cataphyll 1.5 - 3
mm long, acute, sometimes absent. Scape straight, 0.7 - 2.5 cm long. Spike erect, symmetric, broad-ovate, 3 -
6 mm long, 3 - 4 mm wide, remaining compact. Primary bracts 2, patent, unequal, with leaf-like apices, 3 - 10
mm long, glabrous, each enclosing 1-3 male flowers. Distal bracts 4-9, ovate, acuminate, 1.5 - 2.8 mm long,
each enclosing 1 female flower; backs keeled with a median row of hairs; margins broad, ciliate near base.
Secondary bract subtending stamen lanceolate-elliptic, 1 - 1.7 mm long. Anther 0.6 - 0.7 mm long. Secondary
bract subtending ovary ovate, ciliolate, 2 mm long. Seed 0.7 - 0.9 mm long.
Occurs in S.A. south-east from Adelaide and Kangaroo Is., the Western District, Gippsland coast and Murray
Valley of Vic., northern and eastern coasts of Tas. Grows on moist ground in heath, scrub and woodland.
Flowers Sept. - Oct.
S.A.: Comaum, D. Hunt 1310 (AD); National Park, Belair, R. Schodde 1020 (AD, CANB). Vic.: Lady Julia
Percy Is., A.C. Beauglehole 6641 (MEL); Darlots Creek sanctuary, Ettrick, R. Melville 1658 (MEL). Tas.:
Tasmania, W.Archer 44 (NSW).
Related to A. brizula, the two species forming a vicarious pair in south-western and south-eastern Australia
respectively.
5. Aphelia brizula F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt. Austr. 5:203 (1866)
Brizula muelleri Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:207 (1873), nom. illeg. based on A. brizula F. Muell. T:
ad flumen cygnorum, W.A., J. Drummond 119; holo: MEL 1501519
Illustration: Cooke, op. cit. fig. 1A,L; 2A.
Leaves 1-veined, 1 - 2.6 cm long, glabrous; lamina linear-subulate, keeled, c. 0.5 mm wide. Cataphyll 2 - 4 mm
long, acute, rarely absent. Scape straight, 0.3 - 5.5 cm long. Spike erect, symmetric, broad-ovate, 3 - 7 mm
long, 4 - 6 mm wide, remaining compact. Primary bracts 2, patent, unequal, 3 - 9 mm long, glabrous, each long
enclosing 2 or 3 male flowers; the first with a foliar point to 4 mm long, the second apiculate. Distal bracts 4-
14, broad-ovate, apiculate, 2 - 3.5 mm long, each enclosing 1 female flower; backs keeled, crested with hairs;
margins broad, ciliate near base. Secondary bract subtending stamen elliptic, 2 - 3 mm long. Anther 0.7 - 1 mm
long. Secondary bract subtending ovary broad-ovate, ciliate, 2 - 3 mm long. Seed 1 - 1.1 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A. between Perth and Cape Arid; grows in lithoseral moss beds and moist open
sites in woodland. Flowers Sept - Oct.
W.A.: Mt Angwin, Porongorup Range, W.R. Barker 2361 (AD); Bakers Hill Research Station, D.W. Goodall
812 (PERTH); Boyatup Hill, c. 110 km E of Esperance, A.E. Orchard 1271 (AD, CANB, PERTH); 16 km S
of Badgingarra, P.G. Wilson 3874 (PERTH).
6. Aphelia drummondii (Hieron.) Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:201 (1878)
Brizula drummondii Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:206 (1873). T: Precise locality unknown, W.A., J.
Drummond 933; holo: B n.v.; iso: MEL 1513971.
Illustration: Cooke, op. cit. fig.1C,H; 2C.
Leaves 1-veined, linear, 1.3 - 4.5 cm long, glabrous; lamina narrow-linear, flattened, c. 0.25 mm wide.
Cataphyll 2 - 4 mm long, acute, rarely absent. Scape straight, 2 - 7.5 cm long. Spike patent, asymmetric, broad-
ovate, 3 - 7 mm long, 2 - 4.5 mm wide, remaining compact. Primary bract 1, erect, broad-ovate, acuminate,
2.5 - 3.6 mm long, glabrous, enclosing 3-8 male flowers. Distal bracts 6-15, broad-ovate, apiculate, 1.2 - 2.2
mm long, each enclosing 1 female flower; backs keeled with a crest of tooth-like hair bases; margins broad,
finely erose. Secondary bract subtending stamen elliptic, 2 - 3 mm long. Anther 1.2 - 1.5 mm long. Secondary
bract subtending ovary broad-ovate, entire, 0.8 - 2 mm long. Seed c. 0.8 mm long.
Restricted to the coastal plain of W.A. between Ellen Brook and the Vasse River, and the Darling Plateau
between Yornup and Lake Muir. Grows on seasonally flooded heavy soils, eg. clay pans and pool margins.
Flowers Sept. - Nov.
W.A.: Ellen Brook Tortoise Reserve, G.J. Keighery 1842 (PERTH); swamps near Tone River, A. Oldfield 577
(MEL); Elgin, R.D. Royce 4353 (PERTH); Benger, N of Bunbury, R.D. Royce 4873 (PERTH).
Related to A. brizula but shows some convergence with A. gracilis in its foliage and single primary bract.
Aphelia nutans
2. CENTROLEPIS
Centrolepis Labill., Nov. Holl. Sp. Pl. 1:7 (1804); from the Greek kentron (spur) and lepis (scale), referring to
the points on the primary bracts of C. fascicularis.
Type: C. fascicularis Labill.
Alepyrum R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810). T: A. polygynum R.Br.
Devauxia R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810); [Desvauxia Gaudich., Voy. Uranie 419 (1829), orth. var.] T: D. billardieri
R.Br.
Pseudalepyrum Dandy, J.Bot (London). 70:330 (1932). T: P. pallidum (J.D. Hook.) Dandy
Small annual or perennial herbs. Hairs unbranched or absent. Leaves basal with dilated membranous sheathing
bases and linear to subulate 1-veined laminae; ligule absent. Inflorescence a terminal cymose head, often scapose
on a single erect internode, enclosed by 2 primary bracts on a very short rachis. Secondary bracts 2 or 3 per
pseudanthium or absent. Flowers arranged in 1-many sessile pseudanthia each comprising 0-1 male and 1-30
female flowers. Male flower with capillary filament. Ovaries within each pseudanthium superficially connate,
alternating in 2 rows on a false axis (gynophore); styles at least partially free. Fruit compound, of connate 1-
seeded follicles dehiscing abaxially. Seed ovoid to fusiform.
A genus of 20 species in Australia and about 6 others in south-east Asia, New Guinea and New Zealand.
D.A. Cooke, A Taxonomic Revision of Centrolepis (Centrolepidaceae) in Australia. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:1-
63 (1992).
1 Multicellular hairs present on leaves and/or primary
bracts
2 Perennials; pseudanthia with 1-4 carpels
3 Primary bracts bearing hairs, with subulate
laminae subequal to the bract bases 1. C. fascicularis
3: Primary bracts glabrous, lacking subulate
laminae 9. C. monogyna
2: Annuals; pseudanthia with 4-12 carpels
4 Heads ovoid-conic; primary bracts glabrous 7. C. drummondiana
4: Heads cylindric to broadly ovoid; primary
bracts strigose
5 Heads sessile 6. C. curta
5: Heads scapose
6 Primary bract laminae arcuate, linear, subequal
to the bract bases 2. C. pilosa
6: Primary bract laminae reduced to straight
mucros much shorter than bract bases
7 Primary bracts broad-ovate, sheathing at base
and partly concealing the pseudanthia 3. C. strigosa
7: Primary bracts lanceolate, widely diverging
and fully exposing the pseudanthia 4. C. exserta
1: Multicellular hairs absent (plants glabrous or with
scattered microscopic papillae)
8 Secondary bracts several to numerous, hyaline
9 Leaves distichous; heads laterally compressed;
primary bracts with leaf-like laminae
10 Heads sessile among basal leaves 12. C. inconspicua
10:Heads scapose
11 Heads more than 1.2 mm wide; scape
two-edged for its full length 10. C. aristata
11:Heads up to 1 mm wide; scape filiform-terete,
becoming two-edged just below head 11. C. alepyroides
9: Leaves not distichous; heads terete; primary bract
laminae vestigial or absent
12 Primary bracts acute; heads ovoid-conic,
remaining almost closed 7. C. drummondiana
12:Primary bracts obtuse; heads broadly ovoid,
gaping at anthesis
13 Scapes subequal to leaves; carpels 4-7 3. C. strigosa
13:Scapes exceeding leaves; carpels 7-20 5. C. banksii
8: Secondary bracts absent (rarely one, obscure,
scarious in C. polygyna)
14 Leaves distichous along elongated stems
15 Stigmatic papillae simple, 0.02-0.03 mm long 13. C. muscoides
15:Stigmatic papillae branched, 0.05-0.1 mm long 14. C. pedderensis
14:Leaves in a basal tuft, stems extremely short
16 Pseudanthia 4-10 per head (rarely 3 in a
minority of heads)
17 Margins of the primary bracts regularly
ciliolate 8. C. mutica
17:Margins of the primary bracts entire
18 Leaves straight, lax; outer primary bract
lamina capillary, shorter than the herbaceous
base 15. C. glabra
18:Leaves recurved, rigid; outer primary
bract lamina leaf-like, longer than the
brown cartilaginous base 18. C. eremica
16:Pseudanthia never more than 3 per head
19 Heads ovoid-conic, at least half as wide
as long, sessile; plant lacking
dark pigment 19. C. cephaloformis
19:Heads +cylindric, less than half as wide
as long, scapose or sessile; leaves
and/or bracts ultimately dark-pigmented
20 Heads scapose (except in rare depauperate
specimens); cataphyll obtuse; stamen
adnate to gynophore 17. C. polygyna
20:Heads sessile among basal leaves; cataphyll
acute; stamen free from gynophore
21 Heads terete; bract bases
scarious-hyaline 16. C. caespitosa
21:Heads laterally compressed; bract bases
dark, indurated 20. C. humillima
1. Centrolepis fascicularis Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. 1:7-8, t.1 (1804)
T: in capite Van Diemen [Tas.], 1792, Labillardiere; holo: FI n.v.; iso: B n.v. microfiche AD.
Devauxia billardieri R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810) pro syn. T: in paludosis prope Sydney, N.S.W., R. Brown; lecto:
BM fide D. Cooke, op. cit. 38; syn: MEL535282, MEL 536057.
C. cuspidigera Rudge, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10:283 (1811). T: fig. 1, t.12 loc. cit.
Devauxia longifolia Gaudich., Voy. Uranie 419 (1829); C. longifolia (Gaudich.) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 3:489 (1841).
T: in Novae Hollandiae ora orientali, N.S.W., Gaudichaud; holo: P
Illustrations: G. Dashorst & J. Jessop, Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills t.78 (1990); D. Cooke, J. Adelaide
Bot. Gard. 15:39 fig.13 (1992).
Perennial forming cushions 3-20 cm diam. Leaves basal, tufted with sheath 2 - 6 mm long, pilose; lamina
linear-subulate, subterete, 8 - 45 mm long, c. 0.8 mm wide, glabrous or pilose. Cataphyll obtuse, 3 - 5 mm long.
Scape terete, 2 - 6 cm long, glabrous. Heads ovoid, 2 - 3.5 mm wide. Primary bracts subopposite, similar,
gaping at anthesis; basal sheath broadly cymbiform, 2.5 - 3.5 mm long, herbaceous, usually densely strigose,
tapered into subulate laminae 1 - 3 mm long, acute, glabrous or papillose. Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium,
c.3 mm long, obtuse or truncate. Pseudanthia 7-14, all bisexual. Stamen free; anther c. 0.7 mm long. Carpels
2-4; styles connate at the base; papillae simple, c. 0.04 mm long. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Occurs along the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range from extreme south-eastern Queensland through
N.S.W. and Vic. to south-eastern S.A. including Kangaroo Is.; widespread in Tas.; possibly introduced in south-
western W.A.; also native in New Guinea and Borneo. Grows in coastal swamps, peat bogs and other habitats
with a permanently high water table. Flowers Nov. - Feb.
W.A.: Bramley, Margaret River, R.D. Royce 3821 (PERTH). S.A.: 8 km NE of Myponga, N. Donner 5987 (AD).
N.S.W.: Govetts Leap, Blackheath, E. Constable 5583 (NSW, MEL). Vic.: Lower Glenelg River, A.C.
Beauglehole 774 (MEL). Tas.: Strahan, S.T. Blake 18397 (BRI, HO).
2. Centrolepis pilosa Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:216 (1873)
T: Nova Hollandia inter occasum solis et meridiem spectante [W.A.], J. Drummond 931; holo: B n.v.; iso: MEL
57717; MEL 577261.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:37 fig.12 (1992).
Annual 2.5 - 9 cm high. Leaves basal, tufted, with sheath 2 - 3 mm long, strigose; lamina linear-subulate
subterete 8 - 20 mm long, c. 0.3 mm wide, sparsely pilose to glabrous. Cataphyll obtuse, 2 - 4 mm long. Scape
terete, 1 - 8 cm long, glabrous. Heads ovoid, 2 - 2.5 mm wide. Primary bracts subopposite, similar, gaping at
anthesis; basal sheath broadly cymbiform, 2.5 - 3.5 mm long, herbaceous, densely strigose, abruptly contracted
into arcuate foliar points 2 - 3 mm long, obtuse, glabrous. Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium, c. 2.5 mm
long, obtuse, erose. Pseudanthia 8-12, all bisexual. Stamen free; anther 0.8 - 1 mm long. Carpels 5-8; styles
connate below middle; papillae branched, 0.04 - 0.1 mm long. Seed ovoid, 0.5 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A from the Irwin River S to Albany; grows in heath, scrub and woodland on
sandy or skeletal soils. Flowers Sept. - Oct.
W.A.: Dryandra State Forest, N.T. Burbidge 7894A (CANB); 296 km from Mt Magnet on Geraldton road, D.W.
Goodall 2150 (PERTH); Manjimup, R.D. Royce 2720 (PERTH); Tutanning Reserve, R.D. Royce 7546 (PERTH);
5 km S of Eneabba, R.D. Spencer 14 (MEL).
Close to C. strigosa, which replaces it east of Albany.
3. Centrolepis strigosa (R.Br.)Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:43 (1817)
Devauxia strigosa R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810).
T: saxes prope Bald Head, King Georges Sound [W.A.], Dec. 1801, R. Brown. lecto: BM fide D. Cooke, op.
cit. 23; syn: CANB 67855.
Annual 2 - 11 cm high. Leaves basal, regularly radiating; sheath 2 - 8 mm long, pilose; lamina straight, linear-
subulate, 7 - 30 mm long, c. 0.4 mm wide, pilose with patent hairs or rarely glabrous. Cataphyll obtuse, 3 - 6
mm long. Scape terete, 1 - 10 cm long, glabrous or finely pilose. Heads terete, broadly ovoid, 2 - 4 mm wide.
Primary bracts separated by an internode 1 - 2 mm long, gaping at anthesis, similar; basal sheath broadly
cymbiform, 2 - 3 mm long, herbaceous, strigose to glabrous with glabrous mucros 0.5 - 1.3 mm long.
Pseudanthia 10-20, all bisexual. Secondary bracts 2 or 3 per pseudanthium, 2 - 2.5 mm long, obtuse to truncate,
erose. Stamen free; anther 0.5 - 1.1 mm long. Gynoecium of 4-8 carpels; styles connate at the base; papillae
simple, minute. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Occurs in south-western W.A. in the Mt Magnet-goldfields region and the south coast E of Albany, in S.A. from
the coast to the Flinders Ranges and Murray mallee, the east coast and Dividing Range of Qld from 20oS,
through N.S.W. and Vic. except the alps, and in northern and eastern Tas. There are three subspecies.
1 Anther exserted beyond the primary bracts;
leaf lamina bearing 20-40 hairs per millimetre 3c. subsp. rupestris
1: Anther not exserted beyond the primary bracts;
leaf lamina bearing fewer than 16 hairs
per millimetre
2 Primary bracts both strigose with numerous 4-8-celled
hairs, or rarely one of the bracts subglabrous 3a. subsp. strigosa
2: Primary bracts both glabrous or bearing a few
2-5-celled hairs 3b. subsp. pulvinata
3a. Centrolepis strigosa (R.Br.)Roem. & Schult. subsp. strigosa
Devauxia patersonii R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810); C. patersonii (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:43 (1817);
C. strigosa var. patersonii (R.Br.) Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:208 (1878). T: Port Jackson, N.S.W., 1803, R. Brown;
holo: BM.
Devauxia tenuior R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810); C. tenuior (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:43 (1817); C.
strigosa var. tenuior (R.Br.) Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:208 (1878). T: Kings Island [Tas.], Apr. 1802, R. Brown.
lecto: BM fide D. Cooke, op. cit. 25; syn: CANB 67854; CANB 67856; MEL 535281.
C. aemula Rudge, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10:284 (1811). T: fig.2, t.12 loc. cit.
Illustrations: G. Dashorst & J. Jessop, Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills t.78 (1990); D.Cooke, J. Adelaide
Bot. Gard. 15:27 fig.9A-D (1992).
Tufted herb to 11 cm high. Leaf lamina pilose with 3-15 weakly spreading hairs per mm; apex tapering. Scape
1 - 10 cm long, glabrous or sparsely pilose with lax crisped hairs, green to reddish. Primary bracts densely
strigose with 5-8-celled hairs or the inner bract subglabrous. Anthers 0.5 - 0.8 mm long, not exserted from head.
Throughout the range of the species except inland W.A.; introduced in New Zealand. Grows in heath, scrub,
mallee, woodland and open forest on sand and infertile soils. Flowers Sept. - Nov.
W.A.: Cape Le Grand, P.G. Wilson 5549a (PERTH). S.A.: near Kelly Hill Caves, Kangaroo Is., Hj. Eichler
15235 (AD). Qld: Blackdown Tableland c.35 km SE of Blackwater, R. Henderson 1024 (BRI, MEL). N.S.W.:
Moorebank Rifle Range near Liverpool, R. Pullen 4144 (CANB). Vic.: Mt Arapiles, D. Cooke 241 (MEL).
3b. Centrolepis strigosa subsp. pulvinata (R.Br.) D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:28 (1992)
Devauxia pulvinata R.Br., Prodr. 252 (1810); C. pulvinata (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:43 (1817). T:
Freestone Bay, Kents Group [Tas.], 19 Dec. 1803, R. Brown; lecto: BM fide D. Cooke, op. cit. 28; syn: CANB
67859.
Illustration: M. Stones & W.M. Curtis, Endemic Fl. Tasmania 4: t.86 (1973).
Densely tufted herb to 4 cm. Leaf lamina glabrous or with 1-6 lax hairs per mm; apex tapering. Scape 0.8 -
3 cm long, usually subequal to the leaves, glabrous, green. Primary bracts glabrous or the outer bract with a
few 2-5-celled hairs. Anthers c. 0.6 mm long, not exserted from head.
Restricted to the islands of eastern Bass Strait, where recorded from the Hogan Is., the Kent Group and Cape
Barren Island of the Furneaux Group. Grows in low open coastal vegetation. Flowers July - Oct.
Tas.: Hogan Is., Jan. 1968, N. Scarlett (MEL); Cape Barren Is., J.S. Whinray 223 (AD); Deal Is., Kent Group,
J.S. Whinray 228 (HO); Erith Is., J.S. Whinray 384 (HO).
3c. Centrolepis strigosa subsp. rupestris D.Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:30 (1992)
T: Hickey Ricken Soak, 60 km N of Bullfinch, W.A., 24 Aug. 1970, P.G. Wilson 8751; holo: PERTH; iso:
MEL 1517607.
Illustration: Cooke, op. cit. 27 fig.9G-L.
Densely tufted herb to 4 cm high. Leaf lamina very densely strigose with 20-40 rigidly spreading hairs per mm;
apex abruptly contracted. Scape 1.5 - 3.5 cm long, glabrous, becoming dark red-brown. Primary bracts both
densely strigose with 5-8-celled hairs. Anthers 0.8 - 1.1 mm long, far exserted.
Occurs in inland W.A. from Mt Magnet to the Kalgoorlie area. Grows around granite outcrops where it receives
runoff water. Flowers Aug. - Oct.
W.A.: 298 mile peg [479 km], Great Eastern Highway, A.S. George 4176 (PERTH); 29 miles [46 km] W of Mt
Magnet, A.S. George 7964 (PERTH); Queen Victoria Rock, Wittwer 1933 (PERTH).
4. Centrolepis exserta (R.Br.)Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:44 (1817)
Devauxia exserta R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810). T: East coast of New Holland [Qld],1802, R. Brown; holo: BM.
Centrolepis exserta var. rubra Bailey, Queensl. Fl. 6:1720 (1902). T: Fraser Island, Qld, Lovell s.n.; holo: BRI.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:32 fig.10 (1992)
Annual 4 - 12 cm high. Leaves basal, regularly radiating; sheath with hyaline margins, 2 - 6 mm long, pilose;
lamina straight, linear-subulate, 8 - 30 mm long, c. 0.4 mm wide, sparsely pilose with patent hairs. Cataphyll
obtuse, 3 - 5 mm long. Scape terete, 3 - 11 cm long, glabrous or finely pilose. Heads terete, narrowly ovoid,
c. 2 mm wide. Primary bracts separated by an internode 1 - 3 mm long, widely gaping at anthesis, similar; basal
sheath narrowly cymbiform, 3 - 4 mm long, herbaceous, strigose, with a glabrous foliar point 0.5 - 1.2 mm long.
Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium, c. 3 mm long, obtuse, erose-fimbriolate. Pseudanthia 10 - 25, all bisexual.
Stamen free; anther 0.8 - 1.1 mm long. Carpels 6-9; styles connate at base or free; papillae simple, 0.03 mm
long. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Occurs in tropical Australia from the Kimberley region of W.A., through northern N.T. to about 16o S. and in
Qld to about 20o S. Grows on margins of streams and wetlands, and moist sites in woodland or grassland, mainly
on sandy alluvial soils. Flowers May - Aug.
W.A.: Galeola Creek, Drysdale River National Park, A.S. George 13791 (PERTH; CANB); N.T.: 17 miles [27
km] N Wilton River crossing, P.K. Latz 2749 (AD; BRI; CANB; NT); South Bay, Bickerton Island, R.L. Specht
492 (AD; BRI; CANB; MEL); Qld: army area, Shoalwater Bay, 23 Jul. 1973, J. Edwards (BRI); track to
Pennefeather River, Cape York, A. Morton 1253 (MEL).
C. exserta intergrades at the southern end of its range with C. strigosa, but can be distinguished by the shape
of the primary bracts and the consequently more open head. The var. rubra was based on depauperate material
and differed only in its smaller size and reddish colour.
5. Centrolepis banksii (R.Br.)Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:44 (1817)
Devauxia banksii R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810). T: Nova Cambria apud Endeavour River [Qld], 1770, Banks &
Solander. lecto: BM fide D. Cooke op. cit. 34; syn: CANB 67852.
Devauxia pusilla R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810); C. pusilla (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Nat. 1:44 (1817). T: East
coast of New South Wales within the tropic [Qld], 1802, R. Brown; lecto: BM, fide D. Cooke op. cit. 34.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:35 fig.11 (1992).
Annual 2.5 - 12 cm high. Leaves basal, tufted, glabrous; sheath 2 - 6 mm long, lamina straight, linear-subulate,
8 - 45 mm long, c. 1 mm wide. Cataphyll obtuse, 3 - 5 mm long. Scape terete, 1.5 - 11 cm long, glabrous.
Heads terete, ovoid, 2 - 2.8 mm wide. Primary bracts separated by an internode 1 - 3 mm long, gaping at
anthesis; outer bract cymbiform, 3 - 5 mm long, herbaceous, obtuse or rarely apiculate; inner bract similar, 2.5 -
4 mm long, obtuse. Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium, c. 3 mm long, obtuse, erose. Pseudanthia 9-25, all
bisexual. Stamen adnate to gynophore; anther c.0.6 mm long. Carpels 9-20; styles free; papillae simple,
0.03 mm long. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Occurs in tropical Australia from eastern Kimberley region of W.A., in N.T. mainly in Arnhem land but also
recorded from the Tanami Desert, and scattered in Qld from Cape York to about 18oS; also in New Guinea.
Grows on margins of streams and wetlands, and moist sites in woodland or grassland, mainly on sandy alluvial
soils. Flowers May - Aug.
W.A.: Isdell R. near Grace Knob, W. Fitzgerald 932 (PERTH); Orchid Creek below Carson Escarpment, A.S.
George 13618 (PERTH). N.T.: Little Lagoon, Groote Eylandt, R.L. Specht 411 (CANB, MEL); Obiri Rock
Track, Kakadu National Park, I. Telford 7727 (CBG). Qld.: 27 miles [43 km] NW of Cooktown, I. Telford 1398
(BRI, CBG).
If the very similar C. hainanensis Merrill & Metcalfe is included in C. banksii, the range of the species would
extend north to Vietnam and Hainan Dao. An isolated collection from the Tanami Desert has a more robust
condensed habit with crowded pseudanthia.
6. Centrolepis curta D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:41 (1992)
T: Blyxa Creek, Prince Regent River Reserve, 15o48'S 125o20'E, W.A., 19 Aug. 1974, A.S. George 12423; holo:
PERTH.
Illustration: D. Cooke, op. cit. 42 fig.14
Annual forming rounded tufts 2 - 4 cm diam. Leaves basal, regularly radiating; sheath 1.5 - 3 mm long, c. 0.6
mm wide, pilose; lamina linear, 6 - 24 mm long, pilose near base. Cataphyll subacute, 2 - 2.5 mm long. Heads
sessile or subsessile, cylindric, c. 2 mm diam., crowded in centre of the tuft. Primary bracts opposite, loosely
sheathing; outer bract with a membranous sheath 1.7 - 2.5 mm long, sparsely pilose with ciliate margins, with
a linear lamina 0.8 - 3.2 mm long; inner bract similar, slightly smaller, with a lamina 0.5 - 2 mm long.
Pseudanthia 4-6, all bisexual. Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium, narrow-oblong, 1.7 - 2.2 mm long, truncate
with erose-fimbriate apices. Stamen free; anther c. 1 mm long. Carpels 4-10; styles free; papillae simple, c.
0.03 mm. Seed ovoid, c. 0.4 mm long.
Endemic to the Kimberley district of W.A. north of 17oS latitude. Grows in moist microhabitats within open
woodland and low grassland. Flowers May - Aug.
W.A.: 5 km W of Beverley Springs Homestead, A.S. George 12233 (PERTH); above Carson Escarpment S of
Coucal Gorge, Drysdale River National Park, A.S. George 13911 (PERTH); Gauging station, Camp Creek c. 12
km SW of mining camp, Mitchell Plateau, K. Kenneally 8227 (PERTH).
7. Centrolepis drummondiana (Nees) Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 1:896 (1849)
Devauxia drummondiana Nees, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 1, 6:51 (1841). [Devauxia drummondii Nees in Lehm.,
Pl. Preiss. 2:70 (1846), orth. var.] T: ad flumen cygnorum, W.A., J. Drummond s.n.; holo: B n.; iso: MEL
559507; MEL 559508.
Devauxia brevifolia Nees in Lehm., Pl. Preiss. 2:70 (1846); C. brevifolia (Nees) Walp., Ann. Bot. 1:896 (1849).
T: summi montis Clarence, Plantagenet, W.A., Sept. 1840, L. Preiss 1749; holo: B n.; iso: MEL 536055.
Devauxia urvillei Steud., Syn. Pl. Glum. 2:267 (1855); C. urvillei (Steud.)Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle
12:214 (1873); T: Portum Georgii, N. Holl. [W.A.], Urville; holo P
C. pulchra Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:213 (1873). T: Nova Hollandia inter occasum solis et meridiem
spectante [W.A.], J. Drummond 930; holo: B n.v.; iso: MEL 1513045.
Illustration: D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:45 fig.15 (1992).
Annual 2 - 11 cm high. Leaves basal, tufted; sheath 2 - 5 mm long, glabrous to pilose, lamina straight, linear,
4 - 30 mm long, c. 0.4 mm wide, glabrous or papillose. Cataphyll obtuse, 3 - 7 mm long. Scape terete, 1.5 -
10 mm long, glabrous. Heads terete, narrowly ovoid to pyriform, 1.6 - 2.5 mm wide. Primary bracts
subopposite, separated by an internode to 2 mm, glabrous or papillose, herbaceous, tightly sheathing; outer bract
with basal sheath 2.5 - 6 mm long, contracted into a filiform lamina 0.5 - 3.5 mm long; inner bract similar,
slightly smaller. Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium, 2 - 4 mm long, acute. Pseudanthia 4-12, all bisexual.
Stamen free or adnate to gynophore; anther 1 - 1.8 mm long. Carpels 4-7; styles connate below middle; papillae
simple, c. 0.03 mm. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A. from Shark Bay S and E to the Porongorups; possibly introduced in S.A.
Grows on low-nutrient soils in sand heaths, woodland, lithoseres and swamps. Flowers Sept. - Nov.
W.A.: Augusta, M. Corrick 8950 (AD, MEL); Bayswater, 29 Nov. 1906, A. Morrison (PERTH); Cowallelup
Reserve, K. Newbey 5128 (PERTH); Elgin, R.D. Royce 2284 (PERTH). S.A.: Wooltana Station, Dec. 1920, S.A.
White (AD).
8. Centrolepis mutica (R.Br.) Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:211 (1873)
Alepyrum muticum R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810). T: banks of Oyster Harbour, King Georges Sound [W.A.], Dec.
1801, R. Brown; holo: BM.
Illustration: D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:47 fig.16 (1992).
Annual 3 - 7 cm high. Leaves basal, glabrous; sheath 2 - 4 mm long, lamina linear, subterete, 4 - 11 mm long,
c. 0.3 mm wide. Cataphyll obtuse, 2 - 4 mm long. Scape capillary, 1 - 6 cm long, terete, glabrous. Heads
terete, ovoid-conic, 1 - 2 mm wide. Primary bracts subopposite, glabrous, herbaceous, tightly sheathing; outer
bract with a basal sheath c. 3 mm long, acuminate or produced into a straight foliar point up to 1 mm long; inner
bract similar but margins entire, apex acute, never produced. Secondary bracts absent. Pseudanthia 3-6,
bisexual. Stamen shortly adnate to gynophore; anther c. 0.5 mm long. Carpels 5-8; styles connate at the base;
papillae simple, c. 0.02 mm long. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Endemic to south-western W.A. between Perth and Albany; grows in heath and woodland on low nutrient soils.
Flowers Nov.
W.A.: Bayswater, 14 Dec. 1904, A. Morrison (PERTH); Blackwood River, Nov. 1877, F. Mueller (MEL);
between Frankland and Mt. Barker, R. Pullen 9998B (CANB); c. 1 mile [1.6 km] E of Denmark/Albany junction,
Webster 643 (PERTH).
9. Centrolepis monogyna (J.D. Hook.)Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:205 (1878)
Alepyrum monogynum J.D. Hook., Fl. Tasman. 2:77, t.138B (1858); Aphelia monogyna (J.D.Hook.) Hieron.,
Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:208 (1873); Pseudalepyrum monogynum (J.D.Hook.)Dandy, J. Bot. (London) 70:330
(1932). T: precise locality unknown, Tas., "1434" ex herb. R.C. Gunn. holo: K.
Perennial 2 - 5 cm high. Stems numerous, suberect, branching, with adventitious roots. Leaves tufted; sheath
imbricate 4-6 mm long, pilose with 2-many lax hairs; lamina subulate, glabrous, 5 - 12 mm long, 0.2 - 0.4 mm
wide. Cataphyll acute, c. 6 mm long. Scape terete, glabrous, up to 1 cm long at anthesis, accrescent to 1 - 2.5
cm long. Heads slightly compressed, c. 2 mm wide. Primary bracts separated by an internode 0.7 - 1.2 mm
long, closely sheathing, herbaceous, glabrous; outer bract with a basal sheath 3 - 4 mm long and a foliar point
0.5 - 1.5 mm long; inner bract slightly shorter, acute or with a point to 1 mm long. Secondary bracts 1 per
pseudanthium, 2 - 3 mm long, acute, entire. Pseudanthia 2 - 6, all bisexual. Stamen free; anther 1 - 1.2 mm
long. Carpels 1-(2); styles free; papillae branched, c. 0.1 mm long. Seed ovoid, 0.7 - 0.9 mm long.
Endemic to southern Tas. There are two subspecies.
Pseudanthia 2 per head 9a. subsp. monogyna
Pseudanthia 4-6 per head 9b. subsp. paludicola
9a. Centrolepis monogyna (J.D. Hook.)Benth. subsp. monogyna
Illustration: M. Stones & W.M. Curtis, Endemic Fl. Tasmania 4: t.86 (1973).
Pseudanthia 2 per head, all bisexual. Carpels 1-(2) per pseudanthium.
Widespread in southern and western Tas. from near sea-level to 1100 m altitude, extending to Cradle Mountain
and Lake St. Clair; grows in wet heath and alpine herbfield on poorly drained sands, gravels and peat. Flowers
Dec. - March.
Tas.: Lake Dobson, N.T. Burbidge 3271 (CANB, HO); Port Davey, 12 Feb. 1971, W.M. Curtis (HO); Hartz
Mountains, J. Hemsley 6535 (HO); Snug Plains, 28 Jan. 1960, W. Jackson (HO); Eldon Peak, S. Jarman 95
(HO).
9b. Centrolepis monogyna subsp. paludicola (W.M. Curtis) D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:22 (1992)
C. paludicola W.M. Curtis, Brunonia 7:298 (1985). T: Trappes Inlet, new Lake Pedder near Strathgordon, Tas.,
28 Jan. 1980, Morris 8048. holo: HO 33310; iso: MEL 1522861, CANB.
Illustration: Cooke, op. cit. 24 fig.8.
Pseudanthia 4-6 per head, bisexual or some lacking the stamen. Carpel always solitary.
Scattered in south-western Tas. from near sea-level to 350 m altitude; grows in wet heaths on quartz sands and
other alluvial soils. Flowers Dec. - Feb.
Tas.: Melaleuca Inlet, Bathurst Harbour, 12 Feb. 1971, W.M. Curtis (HO); McPartlan Pass, 42o51'S 146o10'E,
3 Dec. 1985, W.M. Curtis (HO, MEL); Lake Pedder, 27 Feb. 1971, M. Roper (MEL); Lake Pedder shores, 14
Mar. 1971, P. Tyler (AD, HO).
C. monogyna is part of a complex which also includes C. ciliata (J.D. Hook.)Druce in New Zealand and C.
philippinensis Merr. in Malesia.
10. Centrolepis aristata (R. Br.)Roem. & Schultes, Syst. Nat. 1:44 (1817)
Devauxia aristata R. Br., Prodr.253 (1810). T: Princeps Royal Harbour, Oyster harbour, King Georges Sound
[W.A.], Dec. 1801, R. Brown; lecto: BM fide D. Cooke, op. cit. 8; syn: CANB 67860.
C. aristata var. pygmaea F. Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:206 (1878). T: Swanport, Tas. R. Story; holo:
MEL536053.
Illustrations: G. Dashorst & J. Jessop, Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills t.78 (1990); D. Cooke, J. Adelaide
Bot. Gard. 15:9 fig.2 (1992).
Annual 2 - 20 cm high. Leaves distichous, equitant, glabrous; sheath 3 - 8 mm long; lamina triquetrous, 10 -
75 mm long, 0.7 - 2 mm wide. Innermost 1 or 2 leaves with shorter laminae but not cataphyllous. Scape 1 -
14 cm long, two-edged, glabrous or with scabridulous edges. Heads laterally compressed, oblong, 1.3 - 4 mm
wide. Primary bracts opposite, glabrous, closely sheathing; outer bract with a brown scarious basal sheath 3 -
5 mm long with hyaline margins, and a lamina 8 - 45 mm long; inner bract similar but with a lamina 5 - 30
mm long. Pseudanthia 3-30, bisexual. Secondary bracts 2 or 3 per pseudanthium, 2.5 - 4 mm long, truncate to
erose. Stamen free; anther 1 - 2 mm long. Carpels 3-7; styles connate at the base; papillae simple, c. 0.02 mm
long. Seed fusiform, 0.6 - 0.8 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A from the Irwin River S to Albany, in S.A. south-east from Eyre Peninsula
and the southern Flinders Ranges, Eden area of N.S.W., the Western District to Gippsland coast of Vic., northern
and eastern Tas. Grows in moist microhabitats in heath, mallee, woodland and open forest, mainly on sandy
soils. Flowers Sept. - Nov.
W.A.: Mungliginup Creek, Marylands Farm, R.J. Chinnock 7435 (AD, PERTH). S.A.: Mount Compass, D.
Symon 2865 (AD). N.S.W.: Eden, 24 Oct. 1936, E.H. Ising (AD). Vic.: Puckapunyal, R.J. Adair 2250 (AD,
MEL). Tas.: Ransons Beach, A. Moscal 4458 (AD, HO).
11. Centrolepis alepyroides (Nees)Walp., Ann. Bot. 1:897 (1894)
Devauxia alepyroides Nees in Lehm., Pl. Preiss. 2:71 (1846). T: ad radices jugi montani Darlings Range, Perth,
W.A., Oct. 1839, L. Preiss 1739; holo: B n.; iso: MEL 536052, MEL 1510141.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:12 fig.3 (1992).
Annual 1.5 - 6 cm high. Leaves distichous, equitant, glabrous; sheath 2 - 6 mm long; lamina subterete, 4 - 12
mm long, c. 0.4 mm wide. Cataphyll absent. Scape 1 - 5 cm long, terete below, two-edged near the head,
glabrous. Heads laterally compressed, oblong, 0.6 - 1 mm wide. Primary bracts opposite, glabrous, closely
sheathing; outer bract with a membranous or scarious basal sheath 2.6 - 3.8 mm long and a herbaceous lamina
3.6 - 10 mm long; inner bract similar but the lamina 1 - 4 mm long. Secondary bracts 2 per pseudanthium,
acute, entire. Pseudanthia 2-5, bisexual. Stamen free; anther c. 1 mm long. Carpels 1-3; styles connate below
middle; papillae simple, c. 0.02 mm long. Seed fusiform, 0.6 - 0.7 mm long.
Scattered in south-western W.A. between Perth, Busselton and the Stirling Range; grows in seasonally moist
microhabitats including moss beds and sandy wetland margins. Flowers Sept. - Oct.
W.A.: north of Stirlings Range, Oct. 1867, F. Mueller (MEL); Ambergate, R.D. Royce 2900 (PERTH);
Tutanning Reserve, R.D. Royce 7615 (PERTH); Guildford, 1894, J. Sewell (MEL); Walpole National Park, R.D.
Spencer 4 (MEL).
12. Centrolepis inconspicua W. Fitzgerald, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 28:107 (1903)
T: Pinjarrah, W.A., Oct. 1900, W.V. Fitzgerald; holo: NSW 60350.
C. basiflora C.H. Ostenfeld, Biol. Meddel. Kongel. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. 3(2):13 (1921). T: Armadale prope
Perth, W.A., 20 Sep. 1914, Ostenfeld 11; holo: C; iso: MEL 535280.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:14 fig.4 (1992).
Minute tufted annual 0.5 - 2 cm high. Leaves distichous, equitant, glabrous; sheath 3 - 4 mm long; lamina
linear, triquetrous, 4 - 30 mm long, 0.5 - 1 mm wide. Cataphyll absent. Head sessile, laterally compressed,
oblong, 1 - 2 m wide. Primary bracts opposite, glabrous gaping at anthesis; outer bract with a brown scarious
basal sheath 1.5 - 3 mm long with hyaline margins, and a linear lamina 4.5 - 13 mm long; inner bract similar
with a lamina 3 - 10 mm long. Pseudanthia 2-5, bisexual. Secondary bracts 2 or 3 per pseudanthium, 1 - 3 mm
long, acute and entire or minutely erose. Stamen free; anther c. 0.8 mm long. Carpels 1-4; styles very shortly
connate; papillae simple, c. 0.02 mm long. Seed fusiform, c. 0.5 mm long.
Localised in south-western W.A. from Perth S to Pinjarrah and E to Tutanning; grows in seasonally moist
microhabitats such as moss beds. Flowers Sept. - Oct.
W.A.: Tutanning Reserve, R.D. Royce 7541 (PERTH); W.A., n.d., n.coll. (MEL).
Closely related to C. aristata, differing mainly in the complete absence of a scape.
13. Centrolepis muscoides (J.D. Hook.) Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:209 (1873)
Alepyrum muscoides J.D.Hook., Fl. Tasman. 2:77 (1858). T: Marlborough, Tas., R.C. Gunn; holo: K.
Illustration: M. Stones & W.M. Curtis, Endemic Fl. Tasmania 6: t.139 (1978).
Erect loosely tufted herb 1 - 4 cm high. Leaves equitant, distichous in a suberect fan-shaped cluster, glabrous;
sheath 2 - 6 mm long, with imbricate hyaline margins; lamina subterete, 2 - 9 mm long, 0.2 - 0.4 mm wide.
Uppermost 1 or 2 leaves with shorter laminae but not cataphyllous. Scape terete at the base, flattened distally,
1 - 2.5 cm long, glabrous. Heads terete, cylindric, c. 1 mm wide, gaping. Primary bracts opposite, sheathing,
glabrous; outer bract with a basal sheath 3 - 4 mm long and a subulate lamina c. 0.5 mm long; inner bract 2.7 -
3.7 mm long. Secondary bracts absent. Pseudanthia 2-5, 1 or 2 bisexual, others lacking stamen. Stamen free;
anther c. 1 mm long. Carpels 5-8; styles connate at the base; papillae simple, minute. Seed fusiform, c.0.5 mm
long.
Endemic to the Central Plateau and Ben Lomond in Tas. above 600m altitude. Grows around margins of lakes
and streams on sandy alluvium with mosses, persisting as a perennial where covered by water in winter. Flowers
Jan. - Apr.
Tas.: Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain Reserve, 4 Feb. 1961, T. Burns (HO); Lake Augusta, 4 Apr. 1971, W.M.
Curtis (HO); Lake St.Clair, 1976, Dobson (HO); Great Lake, Feb. 1894, L. Rodway (HO); Lake Marion, 15 Jan.
1974, M. Williams (HO).
14. Centrolepis pedderensis W.M. Curtis, Brunonia 7:299 (1985)
T: sandy shore of Lake Pedder (before flooding), Tas., 14 Mar. 1971, P. Tyler s.n.; holo: HO 49886.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:17 fig.6 (1992).
Tufted herb 3 - 5 cm high, annual or perennial and forming clumps up to 7 cm diameter. Leaves equitant,
distichous in a suberect fan-shaped cluster, glabrous; sheath 3 - 10 mm long, with imbricate hyaline margins;
lamina subterete, 3 - 20 mm long, 0.3 - 0.8 mm wide. Uppermost 1 or 2 leaves with shorter laminae but not
cataphyllous. Scape terete at the base, flattened distally, 2 - 3.5 cm long, glabrous. Heads terete, cylindric, c.
1 mm wide, gaping. Primary bracts opposite, sheathing, glabrous; outer bract with a herbaceous basal sheath
3.5 - 4.5 mm long and a subulate lamina 0.5 - 1.2 mm long; inner bract elliptic, acute, 3.3 - 4.2 mm long,
lacking a lamina. Secondary bracts absent. Pseudanthia 2-6, 1 or 2 bisexual, the others lacking the stamen.
Stamen free; anther 1 - 1.5 mm long. Carpels 3-7; styles connate at the base; papillae mostly trilobed, 0.05 - 0.1
mm long. Seed fusiform, c.0.5 mm long.
Endemic to Tas. along the Gordon River system and the original Lake Pedder, up to 300 m altitude. Grows
around margins of lakes and streams on alluvial quartz sands, persisting as a perennial where covered by water
in winter. Flowers Nov. - Mar.
Tas.: Gordon River Splits, 14 Oct. 1977, R. Crowden & S.J. Jarman (HO); Lake Pedder, 24 Jan. 1953, R.
Cruikshank (HO); Lake Pedder, 27 Feb. 1971, M. Roper (MEL); Lake Pedder, 4 Mar. 1966, P. Tyler (MEL).
15. Centrolepis glabra (F.Muell. ex Sonder)Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:209 (1873)
Devauxia glabra F.Muell. ex Sonder, Linnaea 28:226 (1856). T: Mt. Gumcreek [Mount Emu Creek], Vic., F.
Mueller; holo: MEL 536058.
Alepyrum muelleri J.D. Hook., Fl. Tasman. 2:78 (1858). T: Macquarie River Tas., ex herb. R.C. Gunn; holo:
K.
C. platychlamys Reader, Victorian Nat. 23:23 (1906). T: Little Desert, Lowan, Vic., Nov. 1900, F.M. Reader;
holo: MEL.
Illustration: Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:19 fig.7 (1992).
Annual 1 - 8 cm high. Leaves basal, glabrous; sheath 2 - 5 mm long; lamina linear, flat, 8 - 75 mm long, 0.2 -
0.3 mm wide. Cataphyll acute, c. 2 mm long. Scape filiform, terete, 10 - 45 mm long, glabrous. Head terete,
ovoid to cylindric, c. 1 mm wide. Primary bracts opposite, closely sheathing, glabrous; outer bract with a
herbaceous basal sheath 1.5 - 4 mm long with entire hyaline margins, and a straight capillary lamina 0.8 - 2.5
mm long; inner bract 1.4 - 2.8 mm long, lanceolate, lacking a lamina or rarely mucronulate. Secondary bracts
absent. Pseudanthia 3-7, bisexual or 1 or 2 lacking the stamen. Stamen free; anther 0.5 - 0.6 mm long. Carpels
4-7; styles connate at the base; papillae simple, c. 0.03 mm long. Seed ovoid, c. 0.4 mm long.
Occurs in south-western W.A. from Jurien Bay S and E to Cape LeGrand, Kangaroo Island and the lower South-
East of S.A., the Western District and Murray Valley of Victoria extending to the far southern Riverina of
N.S.W., eastern and northern Tas. Grows on bare mud around temporary water, margins of streams and pools.
Flowers mainly Sept. - Dec.
W.A.: 15 km N of Badgingarra, P.G. Wilson 3836 (PERTH); Yoonganillup, R.D. Royce 3375 (PERTH). S.A.:
The Lorimer, Bool Lagoon, D.Hunt 2281 (AD). Vic.: Station Creek crossing, Black Range, 13 Dec. 1968, A.C.
Beauglehole (MEL). Tas.: Allwrights Lagoon, 5 km NE Waddamana, A. Moscal 20271 (AD, HO).
Leaves and scapes vary widely in length, being longest in partly submerged plants. Inflorescence characters are
more constant, but some Western Australian specimens have relatively elongated heads with mucronulate inner
primary bracts.
16. Centrolepis caespitosa D. Cooke, Muelleria 4:269 (1980)
T: Beenup [Byford], W.A., 26 Nov. 1904, A. Morrison; holo: PERTH.
Illustrations: D. Cooke, loc. cit. fig. 1; J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:59 fig.21 (1992).
Annual forming hemispherical tufts to 2.5 cm diam. Leaves crowded, glabrous; sheath 0.8 - 2 mm long, lamina
linear, terete, 5 - 9 mm long, c.0.2 mm wide. Cataphyll acute, 1 - 2 mm long. Scape absent. Heads subsessile,
terete, cylindric with a prominent oblique node at the base, c. 0.5 mm wide. Primary bracts opposite, glabrous,
closely sheathing; outer bract with a scarious-hyaline basal sheath 1.5 - 3 mm long passing into a linear lamina
2.5 - 4 mm long; inner bract 1.5 - 2 mm long, subhyaline with a recurved herbaceous apex to 0.6 mm long.
Secondary bracts absent. Pseudanthium 1, bisexual. Stamen free; anther 0.5 - 0.7 mm long. Carpels 3-6;
styles connate below the middle; papillae simple, minute. Seed ovoid, c.0.4 mm long.
Endemic and localised in south-west W.A., where recorded from 2 localities only; grows on seasonally wet clay
soils in open sites. Flowers Nov.
W.A.: 10 km S of South Stirlings townsite, G. Keighery 917 (PERTH).
17. Centrolepis polygyna (R.Br.) Hieron., Abh. Naturf. Ges. Halle 12:210 (1873)
Alepyrum polygynum R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810). T: banks of Oyster Harbour, King Georges Sound [W.A.], Dec.
1801, R. Brown; holo: BM.
Alepyrum pumilio R.Br., Prodr. 253 (1810).
T: Oyster Harbour, King Georges Sound [W.A.], Dec. 1801, R. Brown; holo: BM.
Illustrations: G. Dashorst & J. Jessop, Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills t.78 (1990); D. Cooke J. Adelaide
Bot. Gard. 15:51 fig.18 (1992).
Annual 1 - 7 cm high. Leaves tufted, glabrous; sheath 1 - 5 mm long; lamina recurved or erect, terete, linear,
3 - 12 mm long. Cataphyll obtuse, 1.5 - 3.5 mm long. Scape terete, up to 6 cm long, glabrous; rarely reduced
and the head subsessile. Heads narrow-cylindric, 0.7 - 1 mm wide. Primary bracts opposite, closely sheathing,
glabrous; outer bract with a brown cartilaginous basal sheath 2 - 4.2 mm long passing abruptly into a recurved
lamina 3 - 20 mm long; inner bract 2 - 4 mm long, acute, brown cartilaginous, lacking a lamina. Secondary
bracts absent (rarely 1 per head, scarious). Pseudanthia 1-3, bisexual. Stamen adnate to gynophore; anther 0.5 -
1.5 mm long. Carpels 6-30; styles connate at the base; papillae simple, c. 0.03 mm long. Seed ovoid, 0.5 -
0.8 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A. from the Murchison River to Cape Arid, extending inland to Mt Magnet and
the goldfields, in S.A. S and E from Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders Ranges, central western slopes area of
N.S.W., the Western District to Gippsland coast and Murray Valley of Vic., north-eastern Tas. Grows on sands
and other infertile soils. Flowers July - Nov.
W.A.: Lort River crossing Ravensthorpe-Esperance road, N.N. Donner 2980 (AD, CANB, PERTH). S.A.:
Manning Reserve, D. Cooke 495 (AD). Vic.: N side of Quail Is., R. Melville 2085 (MEL); Mt Sturgeon, M.
Corrick 1235 (MEL). Tas.: Bridport, 10 Nov. 1952, W.M. Curtis (HO).
C. polygyna comprises many biotypes loosely associated with particular regions and habitats. Tall, darkly
pigmented plants with 2 or 3 pseudanthia per head are typical of south-western Victoria and the jarrah forests
of Western Australia. Specimens from the Victorian mallee with two pseudanthia per head and a compact habit
resemble reduced states of C. eremica. Small, scapeless plants from water-stressed environments superficially
resemble C. cephaloformis in habit.
18. Centrolepis eremica D. Cooke, in Jessop & Toelken, Fl. S. Aust. 4:1826 (1986)
T: South Australia, Everard Range, Sep. 1968, A.G. Spooner 73; holo: AD 96845116.
Illustration: D. Cooke, op. cit. 1827 fig.835; J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:49 fig.17 (1992).
Annual 2 - 4 cm high. Leaves tufted, glabrous; sheath 1 - 5 mm long; lamina recurved, linear, terete, obtuse,
5 - 12 mm long. Cataphyll obtuse, c. 2 mm long. Scape terete, 1 - 3 cm long, glabrous. Head ovoid-conic,
1 - 2 mm wide. Primary bracts opposite, glabrous, closely sheathing; outer bract with a brown cartilaginous
basal sheath 2 - 3.5 mm long passing abruptly into a lamina 2 - 8 mm long; inner bract 1.8 - 3 mm long, acute,
brown cartilaginous, lacking a lamina. Secondary bracts absent. Pseudanthia 4 - 10, all bisexual or a minority
lacking the stamen. Stamen free; anther 1 - 1.2 mm long. Carpels 6-20; styles connate at the base; papillae
simple, c. 0.03 mm long. Seed ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Occurs in inland W.A., southern N.T. to 20oS, inland S.A. and far north-western N.S.W. Grows on margins of
water, claypans or beside boulders producing runoff. Flowers July - Sept.
W.A.: Beru Pool, Yelma Station, R.J. Chinnock 753 (AD, PERTH). N.T.: S of Mongrel Downs Station, P.K.
Latz 6552 (NT, PERTH). S.A.: 10 km S of Sturt Creek homestead, F. Badman 3467 (AD); Coongie Lakes, J.
Reid 438 (AD). N.S.W.: Cobham Lake, W. Bauerlen 271 (MEL).
19. Centrolepis cephaloformis F.M.Reader, Vict. Nat. 19:97 (1902)
T: Lowan, Vic., 1892, F.M. Reader; lecto: MEL 536054 p.p. fide D. Cooke, Muelleria 4:267 (1980); syn: MEL
536054 p.p.; MELU 11831.
Annual 4 - 10 mm high forming rounded tufts 4 - 32 mm diam. Leaves crowded, glabrous; sheath 1 - 2.5 mm
long, scarious, passing into a recurved subulate lamina 2 - 6 mm long, 0.5 - 0.8 mm wide. Scape absent. Heads
ovoid-conic, 1 - 1.7 mm wide, 2 - 3 mm long. Primary bracts opposite, glabrous, closely sheathing; outer bract
with a scarious, stramineous or brown basal sheath 2 - 3 mm long passing abruptly into a lamina 2 - 4.5 mm
long; inner bract 2 - 3 mm long, acute or apiculate, scarious, lacking a lamina. Secondary bracts absent.
Pseudanthia 1-3, bisexual or one lacking the stamen. Stamen free; anther 0.5 - 1.4 mm long. Gynoecium of
4-10 carpels; styles connate below middle; papillae simple, c. 0.03 mm long. Seed ovoid, 0.4 - 0.6 mm long.
Widespread in south-western W.A., southern S.A. and in Victoria west of Bendigo; grows mainly in sparse seral
vegetation on dunes and the margins of clay pans and salt marshes. Flowers Sept. - Oct. There are two
subspecies.
All or most heads containing three pseudanthia;
cataphyll obtuse 19a. subsp. cephaloformis
All or most heads containing one pseudanthium;
cataphyll acute 19b. subsp. murrayi
19a. Centrolepis cephaloformis F.M.Reader subsp. cephaloformis
Illustration: D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:56 fig.20 (1992).
Laminae of leaves and outer primary bracts recurved, subequal to the sheaths. Cataphyll obtuse, c. 2 mm long,
without lamina. Heads containing 3 pseudanthia: 2 bisexual, the third lacking the stamen (rarely one bisexual
pseudanthium absent in reduced heads).
The range of the species except for offshore islands.
W.A.: Oldfield River Crossing, Eyre Hwy, Hj. Eichler 21176 (AD); Split Rocks 95 km SSE of Southern Cross,
K. Newbey 9262 (PERTH). S.A.: Oak Amphitheatre, Hincks National Park, C.R. Alcock 2258 (AD); Torrens Is.,
D. Blackburn B155 (AD). Vic.: 2 km NW of Wonga Hut, Wyperfeld, T.B. Muir 5895 (MEL).
19b. Centrolepis cephaloformis subsp. murrayi (J. Black) D. Cooke, Muelleria 4:269 (1980).
C. murrayi J. Black, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 47:367-368 (1923). T: Hill 781, North Pearson Island, S.A., Jan.
1923, T.G. Osborn; holo: AD 96012011; iso: AD 97918146 p.p.
Illustration: D. Cooke, Fl. South Aust. 4:1825 fig.834 (1986).
Laminae of leaves and outer primary bracts recurved or straight, exceeding the sheaths. Cataphyll acute, 2 - 3.5
mm long, sometimes with a distinct vein and a vestigial lamina. Heads containing 1 bisexual pseudanthium
(very rarely a second pseudanthium lacking the stamen also present).
Disjunct coastal distribution in W.A. near Kalbarri, Beaufort Inlet and the Recherche Archipelago; in S.A. on
Pearson Island and Kangaroo Island.
W.A.: 2 miles [3 km] W of Eurardy Homestead, N of Murchison River, A.S. George 9526 (PERTH); Boxer
Island, Recherche Archipelago, 8 Nov. 1950, J.H. Willis (MEL, PERTH); 4.5 km N of Kalbarri, K. Wilson 2640
(NSW). S.A.: Harriet River Bridge, Kangaroo Is., B.M. Overton 1309 (AD).
The populations near Kalbarri differ from those on the south coast in their denser habit and brown primary
bracts. This subspecies may be a group of relic populations, supplanted on the mainland by the more specialised
subsp. cephaloformis.
20. Centrolepis humillima F.Muell ex Benth., Fl. Austral. 7:203 (1878)
T: north of Stirling Range, W.A., Oct. 1867, F. Mueller; holo: K n.v.; iso: MEL 536059, MEL 536060.
Illustration: D. Cooke, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 15:54 fig.19 (1992).
Annual, 4 - 10 mm high. Leaves tufted, glabrous; sheath 0.8 - 2 mm long; lamina recurved, broad-linear 2 -
8 mm long, 0.6 - 1 mm wide, conduplicate at base. Cataphyll acute, 2 - 3 mm long. Scape absent. Heads
sessile or subsessile, laterally compressed, subcylindric, 0.5 - 1 mm wide. Primary bracts subopposite, glabrous,
tightly sheathing; outer bract with a dark brown, indurated basal sheath 1.5 - 3.5 mm long passing abruptly into
a linear lamina 2 - 5 mm long. Inner bract 1 - 2.2 mm long, scarious to indurated, apex acute and enclosed by
the outer bract. Secondary bracts absent. Pseudanthium 1, bisexual, in the axil of the outer bract. Stamen free;
anther 0.5 - 1 mm long. Gynoecium of (1)-3-7 carpels; styles connate at base; papillae simple, minute. Seed
ovoid, c. 0.5 mm long.
Scattered in south-western W.A from the Wongan Hills S to Albany and E to Cape Arid; grows in sparse seral
vegetation including moss beds and margins of clay pans. Flowers Sept. - Dec.
W.A.: 18 km E of Piawanning, A.C. Beauglehole 12254 (MEL); Neridup, Hj. Eichler 19912 (AD, PERTH);
Wongan Hills, 17 Sep. 1963, J.H. Willis (MEL); Lake Grace road, 28 km N of Pingrup, K. Wilson 2767 (NSW);
Mortlock R. flats 4 km E of Meckering, P.G. Wilson 11839 (MEL, PERTH).
Doubtful name
Centrolepis videns J.Stirling, Trans. & Proc. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 22:379 (1903), nom. nud.
T: Australian Alps to 4,000' altitude (no collection cited).
Probably referable to C. fascicularis.
3. GAIMARDIA
Gaimardia Gaudich., Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 1, 5:100 (1825); after J.P. Gaimard, zoologist and surgeon on the Uranie
expedition with Freycinet and Gaudichaud.
Type: G. australis Gaudich. (extra-Australian).
Cushion-forming herbaceous perennials. Stems leafy, producing adventitious roots. Leaves obscurely distichous,
with imbricate scarious sheaths and linear 3-veined laminae. Hairs lax and branching or absent. Ligule formed
by union of the sheath margins. Lamina narrow-linear, 3-veined to near apex, rigid, glabrous. Inflorescences
terminal on glabrous accrescent scapes. Primary bracts 2 or 3, alternate, ovate, successively smaller, finely striate,
brown; lowermost enclosing a pseudanthium of two equal, collateral carpels and two stamens; next bract empty
or containing carpels only. Third bract empty. Secondary bracts absent. Ovaries connate, stipitate; styles free.
Male flower with robust filament. Fruit compound, the carpels dehiscing abaxially. Seed ovoid-oblong.
A genus of 4 species in Tasmania, New Guinea, New Zealand, South America and the Falkland Islands; 3 species
(2 endemic) in Tasmania.
1 Leaves 0.5 - 1 mm wide, apical seta absent 1. G. amblyphylla
1: Leaves up to 0.5 mm wide, apex bearing a seta
2 Ligule deeply bifid, pilose 2. G. fitzgeraldii
2: Ligule entire, glabrous 3. G. setacea
1. Gaimardia amblyphylla W.M. Curtis, Brunonia 7:299 (1984).
T: Olga River valley on survey line 7, c. 5 km E of Mt Eleanor, Tas., 26 Nov. 1977, S.J. Jarman s.n. holo: HO
49885; iso: K, CHR, NSW.
Loosely tufted perennial with stems to 10 cm long. Leaf sheaths 4-7 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, pale stramineous;
margins at first densely to sparsely pilose, sometimes glabrescent. Ligule obtuse, entire or bifid, 1.5 - 2.2 mm
long, pilose. Leaf lamina linear, 8 - 15 mm long, 0.5 - 1 mm wide, thickened; apex obtuse to truncate; seta
absent. Scape 0.7 - 2.4 mm long, exceeding leaves when fruiting, minutely papillose. Primary bracts apiculate,
the first 2 - 2.5 mm long, the next 1.8 - 2 mm long, the third c. 1.2 mm long if present. Seed c.0.8 mm long.
Endemic in southern Tasmania below 400 m altitude near coast; grows in wet heaths. Flowers Nov. - Dec.
Tas.: Melaleuca Inlet 1 km W of Melaleuca, M.J. Brown 1213 (HO); Burke Creek flats, Cox Bight, A.M.
Buchanan 8810 (HO); Davey River NW of Deep Eddy, A. Moscal 522 (HO); Mulcahy River Plain, A. Moscal
11652 (HO).
2. Gaimardia fitzgeraldii F. Muell. & Rodw. in Rodw., Pap. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania 1894-5:55 (1896).
T: Adamson Peak, Tas., Dec. 1894, L. Rodway s.n. syn: MEL 1501515; HO 23878.
G. fairfaxii Churchill, D.M., Muir, T.B. & Sinkora, D.M. Muelleria 5:246 (1984), sphalm. orthog.
Illustration: M. Stones & W.M. Curtis, Endemic Fl. Tasmania 6: t.122 (1978).
Densely tufted perennial forming cushions to 10 cm diam. Leaf sheaths 3 - 7 mm long, 1 - 2 mm wide, pale
stramineous; margins at first white tomentose, later glabrescent or remaining sparsely pilose. Ligule acute, deeply
bifid, 1 - 1.5 mm long, white-tomentose. Leaf lamina linear-subulate, 4-10 mm long, c. 0.5 mm wide; apex
obtuse, abruptly contracted into a crisped white seta 1 - 2 mm long. Scape to 9 mm long, subequal to leaves
when fruiting, smooth. Primary bracts apiculate, the first 2 - 2.6 mm long, the next 1.2 - 1.8 mm long, the third
c. 1 mm long if present. Seed c. 0.8 mm long.
Endemic in southern Tasmania, in ranges over 800 m altitude; grows in alpine heath and herbfield. Flowers Dec.- Jan.
Tas.: summit area, Mt Propsting [Picton], M.J. Brown 1366 (HO); Great Dome, Denison Range, S.J. Jarman 130
(HO); Lake Rhona, Jan. 1977, P.J. Tyler (HO); Lake Dobson, 15 Jan. 1963, N.M. Wace (HO).
3. Gaimardia setacea J.D. Hook., Fl. New Zealand 1:267 (1853)
T: Port Preservation, New Zealand, Lyall 297/57. lecto: K n.v., fide Edgar, Flora of New Zealand 2:85 (1970).
Illustration: L.B. Moore & J.B. Irwin, Oxford Book of New Zealand Plants t.201 (1978).
Densely tufted perennial forming cushions to 10 cm diameter. Leaf sheaths 3 - 9 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, light
brown; margins glabrous or very sparsely pilose. Ligule acute, entire, 0.6 - 1.3 mm long, glabrous. Leaf lamina
subulate, 3 - 15 mm long, to 0.4 mm wide; apex acute, tapered into a straight white or stramineous seta to 1 mm
long. Scape to 10 mm long, subequal to leaves when fruiting, smooth. Primary bracts acute, the first 1.5 - 2
mm long, the next 1 - 1.5 mm long, the third c. 1 mm long if present. Seed 0.5 mm long.
Occurs in southern Tasmania, in ranges over 1000 m altitude, also in New Guinea and New Zealand; grows in
alpine heath and herbfield. Flowers: Jan.
Tas.: Mt Field, 30 Dec. 1919, R.A. Black (MEL); Frenchmans Cap, A.M. Buchanan 456 (HO); Walking Club
Soak near Lake Dobson, 9 Jan. 1948, W.M. Curtis (HO).
Definition:
pseudanthium: a highly condensed unit inflorescence analogous to a bisexual flower but composed of 2-many
reduced unisexual flowers.
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