''Dysphania melanocarpa'', commonly known as black crumbweed, is an annual

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

that grows in arid and semi-arid regions of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Description

It grows as a prostrate aromatic annual, with hairy stems that branch from its base. Leaves are oval in shape, about fifteen millimetres long. Flowers occur in dense clusters located in the

axil A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...

Taxonomy

It was first published in 1922 by John McConnell Black, as a variety of '' C. carinatum'', and promoted to species rank by him in 1934. Two forms have been published, although these are only recognised in South Australia and Western Australia; they are ''C. melanocarpum'' f. ''melanocarpum'' and ''C. melanocarpum'' f. ''leucocarpum''. In 2008, Sergei L. Mosyakin & Steven E. Clemants grouped this taxon in genus '' Dysphania''.

Distribution and habitat

It occurs in arid and semi-arid areas of Australia, usually in well-drained soils.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q5319548 melanocarpa Flora of New South Wales Flora of the Northern Territory Flora of South Australia Eudicots of Western Australia Caryophyllales of Australia