Ellura Sanctuary: Small Bluebush & Saltbush

Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida) - Betalains (Caryophyllales) - Amaranth (Amaranthaceae); 4 species, 2 from Ellura

Pink Mulla Mulla
Ptilotus exaltatus

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Thank you Darren Schmitke & Dr Timothy Hammer for identifying and Dr Miguel de Salas (mftasp) for helping with the id of this species for us

Darren invited us to a local reserve to show us some stunning species exploding after a fire 2.5 years ago. When we found this Darren told us it was Mulla Mulla.
However trying to nail down the binomial name presented a challenge.
It turns out the taxonomy of Ptilotus has been a bit of a mess. Some on-line systems still haven't caught up. At one point this was P. exaltatus var exaltatus, then was moved to Ptilotus nobilis ssp nobilis, but then the other sub-species of P. nobilis were moved elsewhere and this defaulted to P. nobilis.
Miguel highlighted this to us on iNaturalist.
Then Timothy wrote a paper clarifying it's taxonomic position back to P. exaltatus.
Well at least the common name didn't change

LOL

2 specimens observed in Spring: Sep
Recorded between 05-Sep-2020 and 30-Sep-2022

🔍Habit

🔍Flower & Bud

🔍Flower Close Up

🔍Flower with old Fruit

Cotton Bush
Ptilotus obovatus

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Other Common Name: Silver Mulla Mulla

Thank you Dr Timothy Hammer for confirming the id of this species for us

4Fl specimens observed in Spring: Sep
Recorded between 10-Sep-2023 and 11-Sep-2023

🔍S2, Whole

🔍S4, Patch

🔍S3, Habit

🔍S2, Leaf

🔍S2, Flower

Rabbit-tails
Ptilotus seminudus

iNaturalist

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Thank you Dr Timothy Hammer for confirming the id of this species for us

Very variable in colour; from bright green to deep red.
Main difference with Pussy Tails is the leaf shape.

21(1J,1B,3Fl) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(3:1J), Apr(2), Aug(1), Sep(6:1B,1Fl), Oct(8:2Fl) & Nov(1)
Recorded between 07-Oct-2012 and 29-Apr-2026

Green

Red

🔍In Flower

In Flower, Profile

Young Flower

Mature Flower

Pussy-tails
Ptilotus spathulatus

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Synonym: Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus

Other Common Names: Cat's Paw or Mulla Mulla

Small sprawling forb with green, purple and red coloured leaves.
The "flowers" grow on the end of long stems that lay on the ground well away from the root. They then stand up like little x-mas trees. The flowers are soft and don't have petals. They look more like seed heads.

22(1B,5Fl) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Apr(2), May(3), Jun(1B), Jul(2:1Fl), Aug(2), Sep(6:2Fl), Oct(4:2Fl) & Nov(2)
Recorded between 02-Nov-2010 and 29-May-2026

Plant

Flower

Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida) - Betalains (Caryophyllales) - Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae); 12 species, 9 from Ellura

Small-leaf Goosefoot
Chenopodium desertorum ssp microphyllum

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We confused these with Spiny Saltbush (Rhagodia spinescens), thinking they were small/immature plants. We took another look when we realised they were mature and fruiting.
This is the same issue that occurs with Dwarf Twinleaf; most people think they are seedlings too.

6(2B,2Fl,1Fr) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Apr(2:1B,1Fl,1Fr), Jun(2:1Fl), Jul(1B) & Sep(1)
Recorded between 16-Jun-2013 and 24-Apr-2026

Shiny, Brown Edged Leaf

Flower Perspective

New Male Flower

Cannonball Burr
Dissocarpus paradoxus

iNaturalist

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Other Common Name: Ball Bindyi

Similar Species: Woolly-fruit Bluebush (Eriochiton sclerolaenoides)

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

A small plant that was abundant in the area.
The burrs are quite large at ~12mm diameter (to the spine tips) and very distinctive; being a woolly ball.
The flowers are petalless, with just long anthers poking out of the wool.
The fruiting body then forms under the woolly ball.

4 specimens observed in Spring: Oct
Recorded between 14-Oct-2019 and 19-Oct-2019

Whole

Flower Finishing

Fruit Forming

Old Fruit Capsule

Woolly-fruit Bluebush
Eriochiton sclerolaenoides

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Synonym: Maireana sclerolaenoides

Other Common Names: Wooly-fruit Copperburr, Woolly-fruit Copperburr or Woolly Bindii

Similar Species: Cannonball Burr (Dissocarpus paradoxus)

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

56(10Fl,8Fr) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(5:2Fl,1Fr), Apr(9:2Fl,2Fr), May(4:2Fr), Jun(3:1Fl,1Fr), Jul(8:2Fl), Aug(8:1Fl,1Fr), Sep(7:1Fl) & Oct(12:1Fl,1Fr)
Recorded between 08-Oct-2003 and 29-May-2026

In Flower

In Fruit

New Growth in Flower

Flower

Fruit

Wingless Fissure-plant
Maireana enchylaenoides

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13(2Fl,3Fr) specimens observed in Autumn & Spring: Apr(3:2Fl,3Fr), May(1), Sep(4), Oct(3) & Nov(2)
Recorded between 17-Apr-2014 and 24-Apr-2026

In Flower & Fruit, sideways

Whole

Leaf, ~11mm, & Stem

2 Flowers, ~2mm high & round

Fruit forming

Fruit, front, ~4mm wide

🔍Fruit, front

Fruit, profile

Lobed Bluebush
Maireana lobiflora

iNaturalist

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Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson & Dave Albrecht for helping with the id of this species for us

We originally found 1 specimen (marked S1 here). Years later we found a patch with various specimens. S1 never returned but is marked to show the history of it.
Maireana lobiflora has thin processes stemming vertically from the 5 lobed wing, and is woolly.
We've never been happy with the id of these as we can't find any splits in the wing, let alone 5 lobes; but we put this down to the woolly nature of the fruit.
The similar Maireana lanosa has a single split, but is sparsely woolly.
We do note, however, the wing is 5 sided (on our specimens), a pentagon of sorts. This is not obvious from above, and the sides aren't straight. We assumed, incorrectly, that the fuit possibly split later forming the 5 lobes. But a fruit we kept for a year never split.
We also noted that the specimens we find are generally prostrate with the ends of the stems lifting vertically near the tips, laden with fruit; almost akin to Ptilotus habit. However, we do find examples where they are small & vertical (possibly grazed, changing the habit), or totally prostrate.
Size is quite variable in width, recording ~220mm wide (often smaller), and ~30mm high (at the ends). In the centre it's closer to 10mm, so a very small "bush". The fruit is up to 6mm wide, with leaves between ~2-5mm
Generally the fruit appears at the end of the stems. At times it appears to be in the middle of a stem, but in these cases the main stem often branches with the fruit on a separate short stem. But there are occasional single fruits along the main stem.

Dave Albrecht, from CSIRO, kindly contacted us and let us know these are actually an undefined species, which he is currently working on describing.
We shall leave it named as is for the time being to help people find these pages until Dave completes his work and finallises the new name for them

21(4Fl,7Fr) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(2), Apr(7:3Fl,5Fr), May(1), Jun(1), Jul(2), Aug(3:1Fl,1Fr), Sep(6) & Oct(1Fr)
Recorded between 16-Apr-2014 and 24-Apr-2026

🔍Whole, heavily procumbent

🔍Whole, slightly procumbent

🔍S1, Whole, almost decumbent

🔍Vertical habit (grazed?)

🔍Whole, Fruit Laden

🔍S1, 2 months later, fruit drying

🔍S1, Leaves, ~5mm long

🔍S1, 6 Flowers, ~2mm wide each

🔍S1, Several Older Flowers

S1, Flower, stamen & anther

🔍S1, Fruit, profile, Leaf & Stem

🔍S1, Fruit, isometric view

🔍Fruit, above

🔍Less Woolly Fruit, above

🔍Less Woolly Fruit, profile

🔍5 Sided Fruit, back

🔍Bunch of Fruit

Hairy-fruit Bluebush
Maireana trichoptera

iNaturalist

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Other Common Name: Mallee Bluebush

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

83(1J,9Fl,40Fr) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(1), Apr(1), May(3:1Fl), Jun(2:1Fl,1Fr), Jul(4:3Fl,1Fr), Aug(21:2Fl,12Fr), Sep(33:1J,2Fl,15Fr) & Oct(18:11Fr)
Recorded between 11-Oct-2003 and 31-May-2026

Whole

🔍Flowers

Above

Habit

Fruit, front

Fruit, back & Red Stem

Buckbush
Salsola australis

iNaturalist

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Synonyms: Salsola kali or Salsola tragus

Other Common Names: Prickly Rolypoly, Prickly Saltwort, Roly Poly, Russian Thistle, Saltwort or Soft Roly-poly

Thank you Andrew Allanson for identifying and Dr Kym Nicolson & Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

What an intriguing plant this is. Long considered to be an introduced plant, studies proved this to be a native and various forms of it have been DNA tested and all link back to the same species.
It has petalless flowers, that can be green or red, with 5-lobed pale-green fruits somewhat similar to bluebush (Maireana sp); which makes sense as it's in the same family (Chenopodiaceae).
It's instantly recognisable in broad acre farming regions from the car, but looks incredibly different in it's early stages & smaller sizes.
It isn't so wide spread in native habitats. Generally considered a pest, but a native just the same that should not be removed from native sites.
It has as many common names as habits

17(1B,5Fl,6Fr) specimens observed in Every Season: Feb(1), Mar(3:1B,2Fl,1Fr), Apr(5:1Fl,4Fr), Jun(1), Jul(2:1Fl), Aug(1), Sep(1) & Oct(3:1Fl,1Fr)
Recorded between 18-Apr-2006 and 11-Apr-2026

🔍Small Mature Plant

🔍Small Young Branching Plant

🔍Stressed

🔍Small Bush, with size

🔍Small Habit

🔍Young Larger Plant Habit

Leaves

🔍Red Stems, in bud

🔍Large Plant in Flower & Fruit

🔍Red Flower

🔍Green Flowers

🔍Fruits & Habit

🔍Fruit Close Up

🔍From last year

🔍As we all know & love

Small-leaf Bindyi
Sclerolaena brevifolia

iNaturalist

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Similar Species: Oblique-spined Bindyi (Sclerolaena obliquicuspis)

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) for confirming the id of this species for us

Leaves here are short ~2-3mm long (hence the binomial name), spines ~5mm long. The whole plant is ~300mm high. Spines are not in the same plane; they are oblique to each other.
It's difficult to separate from Oblique-spined Bindyi (Sclerolaena obliquicuspis) as that species can have small young leaves at the tips as well. It's important to look at the entire plant looking for long mature leaves at the base.
This plant is also less hairy than S. obliquicuspis.
Overall this plant looks more thorny as the leaves are very short compared to the spines.

25Fr specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(1Fr), Feb(1Fr), Mar(1Fr), Apr(2Fr), May(3Fr), Jun(2Fr), Jul(3Fr), Aug(3Fr), Sep(5Fr) & Oct(4Fr)
Recorded between 01-Jan-2011 and 29-May-2026

🔍Whole, profile

🔍Leaves & Thorns

Grey Bindyi
Sclerolaena diacantha

iNaturalist

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Other Common Names: Grey Bindii, Grey Bindi, Grey Bindi-eye, Grey Copperburr or Grey Copper-burr

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

45(11Fr) specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(2), Mar(2:1Fr), Apr(5:1Fr), May(5:1Fr), Jun(4:1Fr), Jul(3:1Fr), Aug(7:1Fr), Sep(5:1Fr), Oct(11:4Fr) & Nov(1)
Recorded between 07-Nov-2003 and 31-May-2026

Large & sprawling

Small & upright

Habit, with 2 pronged fruit

🔍Stem with Fruit

Fruit

Dried showing spiky fruit

Resprounting from an old plant

Oblique-spined Bindyi
Sclerolaena obliquicuspis

iNaturalist

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Other Common Names: I'm sure it's a weed, Owwwww that hurts, Limestone Bindii or Limestone Copperburr

Similar Species: Small-leaf Bindyi (Sclerolaena brevifolia)

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson & Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) for confirming the id of this species for us

Mature leaves here are ~6-10mm long, spines ~5mm long. The whole plant is ~400mm high. Spines are not in the same plane; they are oblique (hence the binomial name) to each other.
Difficult to see, but the thorns are twisted compared to the plane of the fruit. The spines can be somewhat hidden amoung the leaves as the mature leaves (at the base of the plant) are long compared to the length of the spines.
Tricky to separate from the S. brevifolia as the young leaves at the top of the plant can be similar in length (compared to the thorns/spines).
This plant is more hairy than O. brevifolia.

Also similar to Sclerolaena patenticuspis: Mature leaves here are ~5-10mm long, spines ~4-7mm long. The whole plant is ~200mm high. Spines are in the same plane.

37(2Fl,8Fr) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(3:2Fr), Apr(4:1Fl,1Fr), May(4:1Fr), Jun(2), Jul(5:1Fl,1Fr), Aug(5:1Fr), Sep(6), Oct(7:2Fr) & Nov(1)
Recorded between 14-Aug-2004 and 14-Apr-2026

🔍Whole

🔍Flower

🔍Fruit on Stem

🔍Mature Fruit, profile

🔍Mature Fruit, dorsal

Small-flower Bindyi
Sclerolaena parviflora

iNaturalist

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Other Common Name: Mallee Copperbur

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

12(2Fr) specimens observed in Winter & Spring: Jul(6:1Fr), Aug(1), Sep(3) & Oct(2:1Fr)
Recorded between 18-Jul-2020 and 22-Jul-2023

🔍Habit

🔍Leaves & Fruit

🔍Fruit

Samphire
Tecticornia sp

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1 observed in Spring on 24-Oct-2015

Habit

🔍Leaves

Whole

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