Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens

(Nees) K.A.Shep. & Paul G. Wilson
Australian Systematic Botany 20: 327 (2007)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native

Erect shrubs to c. 0.5 m high (rarely up to 2 m high). Articles thick, obovoid, prominently lobed, keeled towards apex, usually ciliolate. Spikes ovoid, the lowest bract pair larger and more deeply lobed than those above. Fruiting perianth spongy, pericarp hard, horny all over. Seed ovate, testa smooth and glossy.

MuM, Wim. Also WA, NT, SA. Uncommon in Victoria, known from a few records near salt lakes in the far north west of the State.

Sometimes occurring with, and difficult to distinguish from Tecticornia indica subsp. leiostachya, with specimens sometimes intermediate between the two taxa. Plants of subsp. bidensfrom Western Australia are much more clearly distinguished from subsp. leiostachyathan those recorded in Victoria. It is possible that subsp. bidensis absent in Victoria, with the few specimens from Victoria being aberrant plants of subsp. leiostachya.

Created by: Andre Messina, 5 May 2015
Updated by: Val Stajsic, 3 Feb. 2022
Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens (hero image) Spinning
Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens (distribution map) Spinning