Flower buds and leaves (ssp. exalata). Australian Plant Image Index, photographer Murray Fagg, Australian National Botanic Gardens, ACT

Flowers and leaves (ssp. exalata). Australian Plant Image Index, photographer Murray Fagg, Australian National Botanic Gardens, ACT

Shrub (ssp. exalata). Australian Plant Image Index, photographer S Douglas, Marramarra National Park near Sydney, NSW

Common Name

Square Raspwort (ssp. exalata), Tall Velvet Sea-berry (ssp. velutina)

Family

Haloragaceae

Notes

Shrub to 1.5m tall. Leaves opposite each other, 4-10cm long, 5-25mm wide, flat, hairless, hairy, or rough, margins toothed to almost entire. Flowers with 4 petals, yellow-green to reddish, in clusters of 3-7 (7-15 in ssp. exalata var. laevis) at the bases of the leaves, or in leafy 'spikes' at the tops of the stems. Vulnerable Australia. Vulnerable NSW.

According to the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage profile, Haloragis exalata ssp. exalata has leaves 6-10cm long, 13-25mm wide. Haloragis exalata ssp. exalata var. exalata has stems and leaves finely rough to the touch, and 3-7 flowered clusters. Haloragis exalata ssp. exalata var. laevis has hairless stems and leaves and 7-15 flowered flower clusters. Haloragis exalata ssp. velutina has velvety leaves 5-6cm long and 6-8mm wide.

Native to the coast and ranges well east of the area covered by this key.

PlantNET description:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Haloragis~exalata   

NSW Department of Environment and Heritage profile (ssp. exalata):  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10392  Note that this description maintains the varieties as varieties of Haloragis exalata subsp. exalata, while the Australian Plant Census and PlantNET record them as Haloragis exalata var. exalata and Haloragis exalata var. laevis.

NSW Department of Environment and Heritage profile (ssp. velutina):  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10393