Short-leaf Bluebush
Maireana brevifolia
Shrub to about 1 m high, with slender often reddish branches which are sparsely woolly.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Chenopods |
| Other Common Names | Yanga Bush, Cotton Bush |
| Distinctive Features | Leaves distinctly tapered towards the base. The flower-like fruits are up to 9 mm in diameter and comprise five paper-thin tan to brown wings. |
| Biology | Perennial. One of the first species to appear in disturbed saline habitats, Maireana brevifolia grows at higher elevation in saline landscapes compared to other saltbushes. It produces a large number of seeds. Farmers regularly graze sheep on bluebush in summer to late autumn, with pasture or stubble, to avoid poisoning by the oxalate in the leaves |
| Native Status | Native |
| Flowering Time | Nov-Jul |