Philotheca salsolifolia

Appearance

''Philotheca salsolifolia'' is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 2 m and has more or less glabrous branchlets. The leaves are crowded, thick and from cylindrical, 3–5 mm long to narrow, pointed and up to 12 mm long.

The flowers are arranged singly or in twos or threes on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a top-shaped pedicel 1–2 mm long or a thin pedicel about 8 mm long. The five sepals are triangular, about 1.5 mm long and the five petals are narrow elliptic, 6–12 mm long and pink to mauve with a dark central stripe. The ten stamens are glabrous, fused together in the lower half, and densely hairy above. Flowering occurs from September to December and the fruit is 5–6 mm long with a pointed tip.

Distribution

''Philotheca salsolifolia'' grows in heath in rocky or sandy places in forest and woodland. It is widespread in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, from near Yamba in the north to Bega on the south coast and as far inland as West Wyalong and the Pilliga scrub. Subspecies ''pedicellata'' is only known from near Angourie on the north coast of New South Wales where it grows in coastal or near-coastal sand.