Commersonia hermanniifolia (J.Gay ex DC.) F.Muell.

Growth Form

Commersonia hermanniifolia is a prostrate or trailing shrub with stems up to 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) long. Its stems spread across the ground, and are often pendent down sandstone rock faces.

Adult Leaf Characteristics

Adult leaves of this species are oblong to lance-shaped, 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long and 4–15 mm (0.16–0.59 in) wide, borne on a petiole up to 4.8 mm (0.19 in) long. The leaves have irregular, wavy edges, a wrinkled upper surface, and a paler, densely hairy lower surface.

Non-Adult Leaf Characteristics

Leaves on juvenile plants and plants recovering from fire are sometimes larger than adult leaves, and have a petiole 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long.

Flower Perianth

Flowers have five white petal-like sepals about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, and five inconspicuous white petals that turn pink as they age.

Flower Reproductive Parts

The stamens are dark red, and five white staminodes surround the central style.

Flowering Period and Fruit

Flowering takes place in spring, and the fruit is a deep red capsule about 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter.

Common Name and Distribution

This species, commonly called wrinkled kerrawang, is a rare taxon that mostly grows in coastal heath on sandstone cliffs or in gullies, found between Broken Bay and Jervis Bay, and along the Shoalhaven River.