''Leionema ralstonii'', is a small shrub with angular, smooth branchlets and pale green flowers in winter. It is restricted to the south coast of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Description

''Leionema ralstonii'' is a small shrub to about high with smooth, substantially angular branchlets. The smooth leaves are

sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...

, about long, wide, smooth edges rolled under when dry, papery texture, with a slight notch at the rounded apex. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

is a tight cluster of 4-7 flowers at the end of branches. The smooth leaves are more or less lance shaped, broader at the apex, long, wide, gradually narrowing at the base, margins rolled under or upward when dry. The

is a compact cyme of 4-7 flowers at the end of branches, the stalk bent downwards, individual fleshy flower stalks are about long. The hemispherical calyx is smooth and fleshy with triangular shaped lobes. The flower petals are pale green, about long and stamens more than double the length of the petals. The dry fruit sits upright, long and ending in a short triangular point. Flowering occurs mostly in winter.

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described by

Ferdinand von Mueller Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Vict ...

in 1860 and he gave it the name ''Eriostemon ralstonii'' and description was published in '' Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae''. In 1998 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to ''Leionema ralstonii'' and the name change was published in the journal

Nuytsia ''Nuytsia floribunda'' is a hemiparasitic tree found in Western Australia. The species is known locally as moodjar and, more recently, the Christmas tree or Western Australian Christmas tree. The display of intensely bright flowers during the ...

Distribution and habitat

''Leionema ralstonii'' is found growing on ridges and creeks in the Bega to Eden district on the south coast of New South Wales.

Conservation status

This species is classified as "vulnerable" by the Government of New South Wales

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' (Cth) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and cultu ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15392826 phylicifolium Sapindales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller