Boronia keysii

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Keys boronia (Boronia keysii) is a small, sprawling shrub native to Queensland, Australia. It grows about 2 meters across with thin stems and hairy young growth. The leaves are pinnate with 1, 3, 5 or 7 leaflets, arranged in opposite pairs and without a stalk. Leaflets are lance-shaped, with the largest one longer than the side leaflets.

The plant bears groups of four-petalled flowers that are pink to white, on short stalks. Flowers can appear at any time of the year, but mainly from May to November. The fruit is a small capsule with four black seeds.

Boronia keysii was first described in 1926 by Karel Domin from specimens collected by James Keys at Lake Cootharaba in 1909; the name honors Keys.

Habitat and range: It grows in the edge area between forest and heath, usually as an understorey plant in open forest, and is known only from the Cooloola region near Lake Cootharaba.

Conservation: Keys boronia is listed as Vulnerable under Australian and Queensland law. Threats include changes to the water table, inappropriate fire regimes, and invasion by exotic pines from nearby plantations.