Notched Phebalium

Back in October, a visit to Vue at Jindivick resulted in the discovery of an unusual understory plant that had us scratching our heads for a time.

Credit: vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au

Notched Phebalium, Leionema bilobum, is rare in Victoria and listed as vulnerable in the F&FGA. ‘Leionema’ = ‘smooth’ and ‘nema’ = ‘thread’. It refers to a "hilar strand," which is a small piece oftissue that connects the hilum, a scar on the side of a seed, to the ovule. ‘Bilobum’ = ‘two lobed’.

The medium dense shrub has aromatic, serrated leaves and white flowers. The shrub has a suckering habit. The branchlets are covered in minute hairs.

The shrub we came across was growing in a Silvertop woodland. Although its distribution is pretty limited, apparently in some locations Notched Phebalium can grow in very dense stands.