Common Name

Long-spined Poverty Bush

Family

Chenopodiaceae

Notes

Shrub or perennial forb to 60cm tall. Leaves succulent, 2-3cm long, narrow cylindrical or triangular in cross-section, hairless. Flowers small (less than 3mm across), solitary at the bases of the leaves. Burrs hairless, with 3-6 spines, usually 4 spines.

Description and photo (page 254) (as Bassia longicuspis) and line drawing of burr (Fig. 46-22 page 253) in G.M. Cunningham, WE Mulham, PL Milthorpe and J H Leigh (1981 and later printings) Plants of Western New South Wales

PlantNET description with line drawing of burr  and photo of branch:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Sclerolaena~longicuspis

Photo of stem with leaves and burrs. Australian Plant Image Index, photographer Kevin Thiele, near Oodnadatta, SA