Prostrate to erect herb or subshrub to 30 cm high, much-branched near base; branches striate, terete, sparsely to densely hispid. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, mostly 10–35 mm long and 4–10 mm wide, acute, surfaces sparsely to densely hairy, margins recurved or revolute; petiole 1–8 mm long. Inflorescences upper-axillary and terminal 15–30-flowered spherical heads; peduncles mostly 2–10 mm long, recurved, shorter than subtending leaves. Flowers bisexual; calyx-lobes linear-triangular, 0.5–1.5 mm long, ciliate; corolla 1.5–3 mm long. Capsules dehiscing by an oblique abscission leaving a star-shaped cavity when seeds shed; seeds compressed-ellipsoid, 2–3 mm long, outer surface transversely rugose, inner surface with a single ridge, pitted. Flowers Sep.–Feb.
GipP, CVU, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also Qld, NSW, ACT. In Victoria apparently confined to eastern areas, usually in sandy soils and often among rocks.
Source:
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Rubiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 616–642. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
