Mitrasacme, Genus, spp., Multiple species,
- Genus
- Multiple species
Australia, Southeast Asia, Malesia, New Zealand, and the Pacific
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Mitrasacme is a genus of roughly 40 to 55 small annual and perennial herbs in the family Loganiaceae, with its greatest diversity in Australia and a range reaching through Southeast Asia, Malesia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Plants are slender and low, mostly 1-12 inches (2-30 cm) tall, with thread-like stems rising from a basal cluster of small leaves. The leaves are narrow to ovate, 0.1-0.6 inch (3-15 mm) long, sometimes carrying minute marginal hairs. Tiny four-lobed flowers, white to cream or pale yellow and under 0.25 inch (6 mm) across, are held singly or in small clusters on hair-like stalks. The fruit is a small two-chambered capsule tipped with a mitre-shaped beak that gives the genus its name. Most species occupy seasonally damp sand, peat, and heathland, and several annual species complete their cycle in a single wet season. Many are short-lived, and few species are offered in cultivation.
Native Range
Mitrasacme is centred in Australia, where most species occur, and extends north and east into Southeast Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and Pacific islands. Plants typically grow in seasonally wet sand, peat, and heathland.Suggested Uses
Occasionally grown in specialist collections of Australian native flora and in bog or sand-bed plantings that mimic seasonally wet heath. Rarely used in general garden settings owing to small size and brief seasonal display.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 1'
Width/Spread1" - 6"
Bloom Information
Most species flower in spring and summer, with timing in Australia following seasonal rains; annual species bloom briefly as ephemerals after wet weather. Flowering of perennial species can extend over several months in moist sites.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White to pale yellowFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Species grow in consistently moist to seasonally wet, low-nutrient soils such as sand and peat in full sun to light shade. Soil that dries completely for long periods stresses the plants, while permanent stagnant water suits only a few wetland species. Acidic substrates match the native heathland habitats. Annual species rely on fresh seed each season and are not long-lived. The small size and specialized moisture needs make most species difficult outside their native conditions. Cultivation information is limited, as the genus is rarely grown.Pruning
No pruning is required for these small herbaceous plants. Spent annual growth dies back naturally at the end of the season.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
