Spatalla salsoloides (R.Br.) Rourke

A semi-erect, much branched shrub to 1 m with spreading prostrate stems bearing ascending branchlets; forming mats 1 m in diam. Leaves acicular terete, incurved, mucronate, very sparsely pilose when young, soon glabrous, 15-30 mm long. Inflorescence single, terminal, sessile, globose to ovoid, 2 cm long 1 cm in diam., a densely congested raceme. Bracts lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, acute, thinly sericeous, 5 mm long 1-1.5 mm wide. Involucres sessile, one-flowered. Bracteoles lanceolate acute, naviculiform, 5-6 mm long, 1 mm wide, sparsely sericeous to glabrous, margins ciliate. The three anticous bracteoles fused in their lower third, slightly incurved. Posticous bracteole free. Perianth 8-9 mm long, curved forward in the limb region in bud; silvery carmine in fresh state. Perianth segments equal, becoming twisted and coiled on opening. Perianth limbs lanceolate, 1.5 mm long, densely sericeous. Perianth claws narrow, becoming twisted and coiled on opening, villous on outer surface and inner margin. Perianth tube 2 mm long, cylindric to slightly quadrangular, glabrous. Style 9 mm, curved forwards at the apex. Pollen presenter cylindric-ellipsoid, geniculate at junction of style and pollen presenter. Ovary ovoid 1 mm long, tomentose. Hypogynous scales subulate linear, hyaline, 1 mm long. Fruits ovoid 4 mm long, 2 mm broad, pubescent, somewhat laterally compressed with a distinct apical beak, wrinkled, broadly pedicellate at the base. Flowering takes place between the end of October and early December.