Kunzea petrophila

Kunzea petrophila is a spreading shrub which usually grows to a height of 2 m (7 ft) with its young branches and leaves covered with often woolly hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately, linear to narrow lance-shaped, 6–9.5 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide without a petiole. The flowers are arranged in groups of between ten and eighteen near the ends of the main branches or in smaller groups on short side shoots. The flowers are sessile with bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flowers. The floral cup is hairy, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long when flowering with the sepal lobes 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long and pointed. The petals are cream-coloured, broadly egg-shaped to almost round and 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long. There are 40-46 stamens which are 0.5–1.5 mm (0.02–0.06 in) long. Flowering has been observed in May, August and November.[2][3]

Kunzea petrophila was first formally described in 2016 by Hellmut R. Toelken and the description was published in Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.[2][4] The specific epithet (petrophila) is derived from the Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra) meaning "rock" or "stone"[5]^:601 and φίλος (phílos) meaning "dear" or "beloved"[5]^:498 referring to this species often growing on sandstone cliffs.[2]

This kunzea grows in sand in sheltered sandstone crevices along the Keep River in the Keep River National Parkin the Northern Territory.[2][3]