About Zieria laxiflora (Benth.) Domin
Zieria laxiflora is an erect shrub that grows to a height of approximately 1.2 meters (4 feet). Its branches are glabrous and marked with longitudinal ridges. This species has compound leaves made up of three leaflets, borne on a petiole 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. The central leaflet measures 15 to 55 millimeters (0.6 to 2 inches) long and 1 to 5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.2 inches) wide. The upper leaf surface is more or less glabrous, dotted with oil glands, while the lower leaf surface is covered in small, star-shaped hairs.
The flowers of Zieria laxiflora are white to pale pink, arranged in groups in leaf axils. Groups typically contain around nine flowers, but may hold as many as fifty. Flower groups are usually around the same length as the leaves, and are sometimes much longer. The four triangular sepal lobes are glabrous and about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. The four petals are about 3.5 millimeters (0.1 inches) long and covered with short, soft hairs. Like other zierias, this species has only four stamens. Flowering takes place from August to December, and fruit develops from November onward. The fruit is a glabrous, slightly warty follicle.
Commonly called wallum zieria, this plant occurs in coastal areas from north of Newcastle, New South Wales, north to Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. It grows in coastal wallum heath and sandy swamps.
