Eastern cotton bush

Maireana microphylla is found in the drier areas throughout south-easternQueensland and eastern New South Wales. It is a common coloniser in disturbed lands, on poor soils and sometimes occurs in dense stands. This species is variable both in vegetative and fruit morphology. There is the common form with small hairy leaves and winged seeds in New South Wales, and there is also a form with slender leaves in eastern Queensland and a form in various parts of NSW with glabrous leaves. A papery wing around the seed does not always develop, particularly in Victorian plants, and the plant then resembles a species of Enchylaena. In Victoria, it is only known from three sites (on border with NSW), in small vegetation remnants on heavy loamy soils. The plants in the Sydney area are introduced.
Flowers are present in spring to autumn and fruits in summer to autumn; a prolific seeder. When propagating, seed is soaked in slightly salty water and sown into slightly salty potting mix, with germinates appearing quickly in 2-3 weeks.
It is very good pioneer species for eroded, degraded sites and has high wildlife value. It is rarely grazed by stock.
Key descriptors:
Climate parameters
Mean annual rainfall: 450-950 mm
Rainfall distribution pattern: summer, uniform or winter
Mean annual temperature: 11-26 C
Mean max. temperature of the hottest month: 27-34 C
Mean min. temperature of the coldest month: 1-8 C
Frosts (approx. no. per year): 3. greater than 20
Frost intensity: light to moderate (0 to -5 C)
Altitude: 100-800 metres
Tolerance of extremes in climate
Drought: known to be moderately drought tolerant
Frost: tolerates frosts in the 0 to -5 C range
Soil factors
Texture: clay loam, cracking clays, light to medium clay (35-50% clay) or loam, sandy loam, sandy clay loam
Soil depth: moderate to deep (30-100 cm or greater)
Salinity: slightly to moderately saline
Biological traits under cultivation
Habit: evergreen shrub less than 2 m tall
Longevity: short-lived less than 15 years
Root system: shallow and spreading