Maireana humillima
(F.Muell.) Paul G.WilsonProstrate or decumbent perennial herb with woody rootstock; branches to c. 20 cm long, densely cottony, often with a few longer silky hairs. Leaves alternate, narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, 5–15 mm long, covered with long, silky, white to tawny hairs. Flowers bisexual, subtended by a pair of membranous, narrowly ovate bracteoles 1–2 mm long, immersed in cottony hairs. Fruiting perianth c. 10–12 mm diam., pubescent on upper surface, flat at apex; tube obconical, glabrous, 3–4 mm diam. at apex, firm and rather thick-walled, slightly expanded at base with point of attachment slightly immersed; wing flat, brown, golden-yellow or tinged pink; radicular slit apparent on wing, extending down tube as a narrow ridge. Fruits Dec.–Mar.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MuF, Gold, CVU, NIS. Also NSW. Rather uncommon on heavier soils of north-central Victoria (e.g. Charlton, Rochester, Bendigo Whipstick), with isolated occurrences near Bacchus Marsh (1992, 2015) and Daylesford (1878).
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Chenopodiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 129–199. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
