Zieria prostrata

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The flowers are pink in the bud stage but turn white as they open
They are arranged in groups of mostly 3 to 7 (sometimes up to 32) in leaf axils and the groups are usually much shorter than the leaves
The four sepal lobes are about 0.5 mm (0.02 in) long, the four petals are 2–2.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and in common with other zierias, there are only four stamens
Flowering mainly occurs from late August to late September or October

Fruit:

A follicle composed of up to four sections joined at the base and which burst open to release their seeds when ripe

Leaves:

Its leaves are composed of three narrow oval leaflets with the middle leaflet 10–16 mm long and 4–6 mm wide and the others smaller
Both surfaces of the leaf are the same colour, dotted with oil glands and glabrous
A stalk 3–4 mm long

Stem & branches:

Roots:

Habit:

It is a prostrate shrub with leaves composed of three leaflets, and flowers with four pink to white petals
It is a prostrate or low, scrambling shrub with glabrous,
It grows to a height of 0.5–1 m

Habitat:

Distribution:

Endemic to the Coffs Harbour district in NSW
It is only known from four headlands and is classified as an endangered species
Grows in low coastal heathland on headlands in a single nature reserve near Coffs Harbour
It is difficult to count the population size but the National Parks and Wildlife Service estimated about one thousand individuals in 1998
Other headlands along the NSW coastline have similar zierias and it is possible that other populations of this species may yet be discovered

Species:

Additional notes:

It was first formally described in 1996 by James Andrew Armstrong in Australian Native Plants: propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping
The main threat to its survival is invasion by introduced species, especially kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) and lantana (Lantana camara)

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