Family Index

Scientific Name

Spyridium obcordatum

Family Name

RHAMNACEAE

Common Name

Creeping Dustymiller

Status

Vulnerable

Height

Flowers

Small,3-6 together in dense heads surrounded by brown bracts and silky hairs.

Fruit

Papery capsule

Form

Prostrate or decumbent shrub with slender wiry branches forming dense mounds .

Municipalities

Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Latrobe; West Tamar

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Locally abundant in several areas near Beaconsfield in northern Tasmania and near Spring Bay on the east coast.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Can sprout after grazing and probably after fire. Seed stored in soil responds to disturbance. Attracts butterflies. 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

Capsules release brownish-black small seeds from valves when mature. close monitoring is required. fruit become brown and dry at maturity and are cut from the plant. nearly mature fruits can be bagged

Seed Treatment Method

Hot water

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Difficult to grow from seed. Short, hot treatment before sowing, or try smoke treatment.

Germination Time

10-60 days

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

6-8 weeks

Expected Time to Plant Out

8-10 weeks

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

Cutting Notes

Usually grown from cuttings.