Coast Twin-leaf

Scientific Name:

Zygophyllum billardierei

Plants of Coast Twin-leaf in a coastal plant community
Photo: A J Brown

Status:

Native to all Australian States.

Plant Description:

Prostrate to ascending perennial herb to subshrub from 20-40 cm high. Has flattened leaves divided into two oblong to wedge-shaped leaflets of 1-3 cm long.

Flowers are pale to bright yellow (fading to white with age) and of 4 petals, 8-15 mm long. Fruit is a 4-angled capsule, containing 1-2 brown, wrinkled to granular seeds in each cell.

Habitat:

Scattered throughout coastal sand dunes and in the far north-west Mallee. Usually growing on poor, arid sites.

Comments:

Similar to Shrubby Twin-leaf (Zygophyllum aurantiacum) of the Mallee which differs in its linear or terete (circular to squarish in cross-section) leaflets and scrambling habit.

Twin leaflets of Coast Twin-leaf
Photo: A J Brown

Flower of Coast Twin-leaf
Photo: A J Brown

Plants of Coast Twin-leaf
Photo: A J Brown

Mature flower of Coast Twin-leaf
Photo: A J Brown

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