White correa

Appearance

It grows to 1.5 metres in height, has reddish-brown hairy new growth. The leaves are near circular to ovate and have a round or cuneate base and a rounded tip. They are 1.5 to 3.5 cm long 1 to 2.7 cm wide with a hairless or upper surface and tomentose lower surface. The white or occasionally light pink four-petalled flowers usually appear between mid autumn and early winter.

Naming

The species was first formally described by Henry Charles Andrews in 1798. There are currently two recognised varieties:

⤷ ''Correa alba'' Andrews var. ''alba''
⤷ ''Correa alba'' var. ''pannosa'' Paul G.Wilson - Velvet White Correa. Occurs on the south-west coast of Victoria and in the region near Encounter Bay in South Australia.

Distribution

The species occurs on low-nutrient soils, in sandy or rocky areas in coastal areas of south-eastern Australia south of Port Stephens, particularly headlands and coastal heathlands. It can grow in areas where it is sprayed with salt water. It is commonly associated with such heathland plants as coastal rosemary , bracelet honey myrtle and common aotus , and dune plants such as Sydney golden wattle .

Habitat

The species occurs on low-nutrient soils, in sandy or rocky areas in coastal areas of south-eastern Australia south of Port Stephens, particularly headlands and coastal heathlands. It can grow in areas where it is sprayed with salt water. It is commonly associated with such heathland plants as coastal rosemary , bracelet honey myrtle and common aotus , and dune plants such as Sydney golden wattle .Wombats have been known to eat the leaves and roots.