Phebalium squamulosum

Phebalium squamulosum is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft), sometimes a slender tree to 7 m (23 ft). It has smooth branchlets covered with rust-coloured scales. The leaves are papery or leathery, linear to elliptical or egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 7–70 mm (0.28–2.76 in) long and 1.5–8 mm (0.059–0.315 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–4 mm (0.020–0.157 in) long. The upper surface of the leaves is more or less glabrous but the lower side is covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales and star-shaped hairs. Between five and ten or more flowers are arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a pedicel 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long. The calyx is hemispherical to top-shaped, 0.5–1.5 mm (0.020–0.059 in) long and 1.2–2 mm (0.047–0.079 in) wide, glabrous on the inside and covered with scales on the outside. The petals are pale to bright yellow or cream-coloured, elliptical, 2–4.5 mm (0.079–0.177 in) long with silvery to rust-coloured scales on the back. The fruit is a follicle about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and erect.[2][3][4][5]

Phebalium squamulosum was first formally described in 1805 by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in his book Jardin de la Malmaison and was the first species in the genus to be described.[6][7]

In 1970, Paul Wilson described ten subspecies, eight of which are now accepted by the Australian Plant Census:[4]

• P. squamulosum subsp. alpinum (Benth.) Paul G.Wilson[8]
• P. squamulosum subsp. argenteum Paul G.Wilson[9]
• P. squamulosum subsp. coriaceum Paul G.Wilson[10]
• P. squamulosum subsp. gracile Paul G.Wilson[11]
• P. squamulosum subsp. lineare Paul G.Wilson[12]
• P. squamulosum subsp. ozothamnoides (F.Muell.) Paul G.Wilson[13]
• P. squamulosum subsp. parvifolium Paul G.Wilson[14]
• P. squamulosum Vent. subsp. squamulosum[15]

There are many intergrades between subspecies and it is sometimes difficult to satisfactorily assign some plants to a taxon.[2]

Scaly phebalium is widespread, mainly growing in heath and forest on sandstone. It is found in northern and south-eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria.[2][3][16]

Phebalium squamulosum is cultivated as an ornamental flowering shrub. The species is frost tolerant and performs best in a well-drained, partially shaded position with a cool, moist root zone.[17]

• 
  P. squamulosum, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 19 August 2017
• 
  P. squamulosum buds, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 24 July 2011
• 
  P. squamulosum subsp. ozothamnoides, Hassans Walls near Lithgow, 19 September 2017
• 
  P. squamulosum subsp. gracile, in the ANBG
• 
  P. squamulosum subsp. lineare, in the ANBG

Media related to Phebalium squamulosum at Wikimedia Commons