Seringia hillii (F.Muell. ex Benth.) F.Muell.

Taxonomic Note

The scientific name referenced in this entry is Seringia hillii, though the description below details Seringia hermanniifolia.

Size and Growth Form

Seringia hermanniifolia is a single-stemmed shrub that typically reaches 1 to 3 metres (3 feet 3 inches to 9 feet 10 inches) in height and 1.0 to 1.5 metres (3 feet 3 inches to 4 feet 11 inches) in width. Its new growth is covered in rust-coloured hairs.

Leaf Structure

The leaves are egg-shaped to linear or lance-shaped, 40 to 90 millimetres (1.6 to 3.5 inches) long and usually 4 to 8 millimetres (0.16 to 0.31 inches) wide, borne on a petiole up to 10 millimetres (0.39 inches) long. Narrow, leaf-like stipules 2 to 8 millimetres (0.079 to 0.315 inches) long grow at the leaf base.

Inflorescence Structure

Flowers are arranged in cymes of 2 to 9 flowers, with the whole cyme reaching up to 20 millimetres (0.79 inches) wide. The cyme grows on a 5 to 15 millimetre (0.20 to 0.59 inch) long peduncle, and each individual flower sits on a 5 to 15 millimetre (0.20 to 0.59 inch) long pedicel.

Flower Appearance

Flowers are mauve, sometimes white or pink, with deeply divided sepals. This species has no petals; stamens alternate with staminodes, and the yellow filaments are twice as long as the anthers.

Flowering Period

Flowering occurs across most months of the year, with a peak in spring and summer.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is a spherical capsule 12 to 15 millimetres (0.47 to 0.59 inches) in diameter.

Distribution and Habitat

Seringia hermanniifolia grows around cliffs and in rocky country near Stanthorpe, the Glasshouse Mountains and Mount Barney in south-east Queensland, and on the coast and ranges north from Port Stephens in New South Wales.