Kunzea sp. "Wadbilliga" is an informally recognized low-growing shrub of the Myrtaceae

Myrtaceae

The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...

 family found in the southeastern tablelands of New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

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The habitat is over 1000 metres (3500 ft) above sea level, usually in heathland

Heath (habitat)

A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...

. It occurs at Big Badja and similar sites in Deua National Park

Deua National Park

Deua is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 320 kilometres south of Sydney, and 100 kilometres east of Canberra. The nearest towns on the coast are Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma....

 and Wadbilliga National Park

Wadbilliga National Park

Wadbilliga National Park is in south-eastern New South Wales Australia, 425 km southwest of Sydney via Cobargo, and 150 km south east of Canberra. The nearest towns are Narooma and Cobargo in the east, and Cooma on the plateau in the west....

, such as Mount Throsby.

The plant community where Kunzea sp. "Wadbilliga" is found, is known as Southern Montane Heath. Within this community is a group of plants on the escarpment heath. Associate species include Allocasuarina nana

Allocasuarina nana

Allocasuarina nana, commonly known as the Dwarf She-Oak, is a small plant found in eastern Australia. Often seen around one metre tall, it grows in exposed heathlands, ridges, clifftops on sandstone based soils...

, Banksia canei

Banksia canei

The mountain banksia is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs in subalpine areas of the Great Dividing Range between Melbourne and Canberra in southeastern Australia...

, Brachyloma daphnoides

Brachyloma daphnoides

Brachyloma daphnoides, commonly known as Daphne Heath, is a small shrub in the heather family, Ericaceae. The species has an upright habit, growing to between 0.4 and 1.5 metres in height. The leaves are 4 to 15 mm long and 1.7 to 3.6 mm wide. These are glossy green above and paler underneath...

, Euryomyrtus denticulata, Hakea dactyloides

Hakea dactyloides

Hakea dactyloides, commonly known as the Finger Hakea, is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to southeastern Australia. Two subspecies are recognised,...

, Hibbertia pedunculata

Hibbertia pedunculata

Hibbertia pedunculata, commonly known as Stalked Guinea-flower, is a small shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It may be near-prostrate or grow up to 30 cm tall and has narrow leaves that are 3 to 6 mm long and about 0.5 mm wide...

, Westringia kydrensis and Isopogon prostratus

Isopogon prostratus

Isopogon prostratus or the Prostate Cone Bush is a rare prostrate shrub found in south eastern Australia. Usually seen as a heath plant, or in dry open eucalyptus woodland. Often exposed to wind, frost, snow, sun and rain. Soils are usually sandy. Older plants tend to have significant rootstock or...

. Kunzea sp. "Wadbilliga" is yet to be scientifically described and named, but appears to be related to Kunzea capitata

Kunzea capitata

Kunzea capitata is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to New South Wales in Australia.-Description:The species has a spreading or erect habit and may grow up to 2 metres in height, but is usually within the range of 0.5 to 1 metre. Flowers are pink to purple, or occasionally...

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Description

It grows to between 20 centimetres and a metre (8 in – 3 ft) in height, with a broad spread. Leaves are tiny, reverse ovate in shape, 2 to 6 mm long, 1 to 3 mm wide. White flowers form in summer. The fruiting capsule is around 4 mm long and 2 and a half mm in diameter, it splits open to release the seeds.

Cultivation

A cultivar named Kunzea "Badja Carpet" is commercially available, having been registered with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (ACRA) in 1979 after successful propagation at the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Australian National Botanic Gardens

The Australian National Botanic Gardens are located in Canberra and are administered by the Australian Government's Department of the Environment and Heritage....

 in Canberra in 1974. This plant is suitable as a frost resistant groundcover

Groundcover

Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance .- Ecosystem :...

in sunny situations. The fluffy white flowers and red stems of new growth are appealing features. It regenerates well from cuttings.