Scientific Name: Spyridium obcordatum Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region

Common Name: creeping dustymiller

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Rhamnaceae

Threatened Species Status: Vulnerable

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Prostrate or decumbent shrub with slender wiry branches up to 40cm long forming dense mounds .

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

Fruit: Papery capsule

Municipality
Glamorgan-Spring BayLatrobeWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Coastal VegetationDry Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes

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

Soil Tolerance

Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained, Sandy, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

General Notes

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

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed, Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Difficult to grow from seed. 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 Hot water is used to soften the hard seed case of some species. This replicates the weathering process. Pour hot (not boiling) water over the seeds and allow them to soak for 4-12 hours.

Seed Treatment Notes

Short, hot treatment before sowing, or try smoke treatment.

Germination Time

10-60 days

Cutting & Division Information

Usually grown from cuttings.