Ajuga australis

Family Lamiaceae

Austral Bugle

Perennial herb with rosette leaves.  Fleshy roots. Longevity 2-3 years.

Flowers: Violet to blue, throughout year, peak in spring September–November.

Fruit: Dry maturing during November.

Seeds: Four seeds per fruit. Egg shaped, 2.5 x 1.5 mm in size, with dimpled/patterned seed coat. Few seeds appear to develop. No specialised dispersal mechanism, local dispersal by gravity assisted by flowering stems that become horizontal at maturity.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Woodland habitat in full sun to light shade.
• Localised patches in sheltered woodland sites at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Plants respond quickly to rain; leaves wilt or die back during dry periods.
• Plants do not spread vegetatively.
• No seedlings observed in the woodland.
• Grazed by rabbits.