Baeckea utilis

Baeckea utilis is a slender, erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 3 m (9.8 ft) and has wiry stems. The leaves are elliptic to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide on a petiole about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers are up to 5.5 mm (0.22 in) wide and arranged singly in leaf axils on a pedicel 1.6–2.5 mm (0.063–0.098 in) long with linear bracteoles 1.0–1.4 mm (0.039–0.055 in) long but that fall as the flowers open. The five sepals are oblong, 0.5–1.0 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long and the five petals are white, more or less round and 1.9–2.5 mm (0.075–0.098 in) long. There are usually eight stamens and the style is about 1.4 mm (0.055 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from December to March and the fruit is hemispherical, 1.7–2.0 mm (0.067–0.079 in) long and 2.7–3.0 mm (0.11–0.12 in) wide.

Mountain baeckea grows in heath, forest or alpine herbfields and is common at higher altitudes south from Dorrigo in New South Wales, through the Australian Capital Territory to eastern Victoria.

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