South Australian green correa

Appearance

"Correa calycina" is a dense shrub that typically grows to 1–3 m high and 1–2 m wide with its branchlets covered with rust-coloured hairs. The leaves are narrow oblong to elliptic, 20–30 mm long and 10–25 mm wide on a petiole 3–6 mm long. The flowers are borne singly on short side shoots on pedicels 2–4 mm long. The calyx is green, top-shaped, square in cross-section and up to 15 mm long with four lance-shaped lobes. The corolla is green ageing to mauve, pendulous, narrow cylindrical, up to 30 mm long and densely covered with star-shaped hairs. The eight stamens are much longer than the petal tube.

Distribution

The South Australian green correa occurs in a few isolated places on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula and on Kangaroo Island in South Australia where it usually grows on or near the banks of streams. Variety "calycina" occurs on the Fleurieu Peninsula near the Hindmarsh and Inman Rivers and Carrickalinga Creek. Variety "halmaturorum" is only known from along the De Mole River on Kangaroo Island, growing in "Eucalyptus cladocalyx" forest.

Status

"Correa calycina" is classified as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999" and the South Australian Government "National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972". The main threats to the species are competition from weeds, especially Montpelier broom, blackberry and willow species. It is also threatened by land clearing and grazing by livestock.