Dysphania melanocarpa
# Dysphania melanocarpa

Dysphania melanocarpa, commonly known as black crumbweed, is an annual herb that grows in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia.

## 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 axils.

## 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.

