Communities

Scientific Name

Opercularia varia

Family Name

RUBIACEAE

Common Name

Variable Stinkweed

Status

Height

0.3m (30cm)

Flowers

2-7 small purplish flowers form a semi-globular head.

Fruit

Woody capsule

Form

Dwarf perennial herb, with an unpleasant smell.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Heath

Habitat Notes

A common species found over a wide range in eastern Australia.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Moist; Shady

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Clay; Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Dry to extract seed

Seed Treatment Method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Scarification may improve results.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

May be grown from cuttings of firm young growth.