Common name: Lifesaver Burr, Milo Burr, Hemp Mallow
Sida platycalyx F.Muell. ex Benth. APNI*
Description: Prostrate or erect shrub.
Leaves ovate-cordate to circular, 10–60 mm long, 17–80 mm wide, margins serrate, stellate-hairy; stipules 10–20 mm long.
Flowers solitary, pedicels 20–30 mm long, stellate-hairy. Calyx 16–30-ribbed, 8–10 mm long, enlarged, papery and enclosing fruit, 14–15 mm long in frui. Petals 15–20 mm long.
Fruit c. 20 mm diam.; mericarps 13–26, stellate-pubescent, covered with spines. Wrinkled, apex rounded, remaining fused together in a ring and still present at the base of new plants.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on sand plains with sandy red earths, less commonly on hard red earths; usually associated with Mulga communities.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. N.T.
Text by A. S. Mitchell & E. H. Norris Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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