Poranthera oreophila

Halford & R.J.F.Hend.
Austrobaileya 7: 20 (2005)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native
Threat status
FFG: Endangered (EN)

Compact perennial herb to c. 15 cm high, glabrous; stems dying down to rootstock annually, often somewhat glaucous. Leaves opposite; petioles to 0.5 mm long; lamina narrow-ovate to narrow-obovate, 4–7 mm long, 1.8–4 mm wide, acute to obtuse, margins flat or recurved; petiole 0.2–0.5 mm long; stipules entire, membranous, to c. 1 mm long. Inflorescences compact racemes, c. 3–8 mm across at anthesis; rachis barely elongating post-anthesis; bracts ovate-lanceolate, to c. 1 mm long. Sepals usually 5, obovate, c. 1 mm long, white. Petals 5, oblanceolate, c. 0.5 mm long, white. Male flowers with 5 stamens, filaments free; female flowers with 3 deeply 2-partite styles, pedicels of female flowers elongating to c. 7 mm in fruit. Capsule 1.7–2.2 mm diam., 3-lobed; seeds wedge-shaped, 0.9–1 mm long, smooth, pale brown or white. Flowers mostly Dec.–Feb.

HNF, VAlp. Confined to higher mountains of the state (Bogong High Plains, Nunniong Plain, Cobberas), occurring in grassland and snow gum woodland above c. 1400 m altitude.

Created by: Neville Walsh, 13 Aug. 2014
Updated by: Val Stajsic, 30 Aug. 2018
Poranthera oreophila (hero image) Spinning
Poranthera oreophila (distribution map) Spinning