| Gaultheria appressa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Gaultheria |
| Species: | G. appressa |
| Binomial name | |
| Gaultheria appressa A.W.Hill [1] |
|
Gaultheria appressa (Waxberry or White Waxberry) is a shrub in the family Ericaceae. The species is endemic to Australia. It has an erect or spreading habit, growing to between 0.5 and 2 metres high, and has reddish brown hairs on its stems.[2][3] Leaves are 3 to 8 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide with small teeth along the edges.[2] Flowers appear in groups of 3 to 11 in racemes in late spring to summer.[2] The sepals become fleshy, white and enlarged during fruit formation. The fruits are between 7 and 10 mm in diameter.[2]
The species occurs in woodland, forest, subalpine scrub and rainforest margins in New South Wales and Victoria.[2][3] In the Greater Sydney region it is recorded in areas with an altitude of between 800 and 1000 metres and with an annual rainfall of 1000 mm.[2]