Black Roly-poly

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©Russel Best via natureshare.org.au CC2.5, Russel Best via natureshare.org.au CC2.5, Russel Best via natureshare.org.au CC2.5, Russel Best via natureshare.org.au CC2.5

Sclerolaena muricata

Hemispherical to 1.5 m high. Smooth to hairy slender tangled branches, brittle with age. Green to grey-green linear or tongue-shaped flattened leaves to 20 mm long. Minute flowers. Fruit has five spreading spines.

Details
Flora Type
Chenopods
Other Common Names
Grey Roly-poly
Distinctive Features

Hemispherical shrub to 1.5 m, tangled branches, spines to 10 mm. Leaves not succulent. Sclerolaena muricata var villosa has downy hairs on the stems and leaves while Sclerolaena muricata var muricata is smooth and lacks hairs
Biology

Perennial. Widespread colonizing but short-lived species, especially common on overgrazed areas on heavier soils. Moderate tolerance to saline soils.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Flowers most of the year
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Sclerolaena
Species
muricata

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Plant breaks at base and rolls like a tumbleweed. The branches break off and disperse the fruit.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Can be confused with S. birchii. S. muricata has more tangled branches, longer spines and is more spherical.
Native Status
Native