Seringia hookeriana

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Seringia hookeriana is a small shrub in the mallow family, native to Queensland, Australia. It grows as a compact, suckering plant about 0.5–2 meters tall and 0.5–1 meter wide. The new growth is densely covered with rusty-coloured hairs.

Leaves are oblong to lance-shaped, 15–65 mm long and 5–18 mm wide, on short stalks. At the base are narrow stipules up to 6 mm long.

Flowers are deep purple and occur in groups of two to four on a short stalk. Each flower is about 10–15 mm across; petals are absent or very small. The sepals are broad and pointed, and the yellow anthers hang on filaments alternating with staminodes. Flowering can occur in most months. The fruit is a bristly capsule up to 20 mm across.

Taxonomy: It was first described in 1851 by Walpers as Keraudrenia hookeriana, and in 1860 Mueller moved it to the genus Seringia, giving Seringia hookeriana. The name honors Joseph Dalton Hooker.

Habitat and distribution: It grows as an understorey shrub in rocky hills and ranges in central Queensland, from near Ingham to Gungal in New South Wales.

Conservation: It is listed as least concern in Queensland.