''Xerothamnella parvifolia'', also known as the Small-leaved Little Dry Shrub, is a species of plant in the acanthus family that is endemic to

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Description

The species grows as an intricately-branched, straggling shrub to about 1 m in height. The leaves are thick and stalkless, 4–10 mm long and 2–3 mm wide. The white and red flowers are about 10 mm long and occur in the upper leaf axils. Flowering usually takes place from November to January, and sometimes in other seasons, when triggered by adequate rainfall. The fruits are 7–8 mm long capsules.

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in the Channel Country

IBRA The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) is a biogeographic regionalisation of Australia developed by the Australian government's Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities. It was devel ...

bioregion, in south-western Queensland,

Mount Poole Mount Poole Station is a pastoral lease operating as a sheep station in New South Wales. The property is situated approximately south west of Tibooburra and north west of White Cliffs. History The first Europeans to venture into the ar ...

in north-western New South Wales and in South Australia. It grows in low

chenopod Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making it ...

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

and low open woodland, in thin sandy clay soils, along the ridgetops and slopes of sandstone ranges.

Conservation

The species is listed as

Vulnerable Vulnerable may refer to: General * Vulnerability * Vulnerability (computing) * Vulnerable adult * Vulnerable species Music Albums * ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997 * ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003 * ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...

under Australia's EPBC Act and Endangered under New South Wales' Biodiversity Conservation Act. Threats include grazing and browsing by native and feral

herbivore A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...

s, as well as by mineral exploration activities.

References

parvifolia Lamiales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Flora of South Australia Taxa named by Cyril Tenison White Plants described in 1944 {{Australia-asterid-stub