Dwarf Geebung

Persoonia chamaepeuce is a prostrate shrub, sometimes with the ends of the branches raised to a height of 30 cm (12 in). The young branches are more or less glabrous. It has smooth, glabrous, linear leaves which are 8–25 mm (0.3–1 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide, straight or curved with the upper surface slightly dished. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a glabrous pedicel 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The flower is composed of four hairy tepals 9–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, which are fused at the base but with the tips rolled back. The central style is surrounded by four yellow anthers which are also joined at the base with the tips rolled back, so that it resembles a cross when viewed end-on. The anthers have a spine about 1 mm (0.04 in) long on the end. The ovary is glabrous. Flowering occurs from December to March and is followed by fruit which are yellowish-green, oval-shaped drupes about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and 6 mm (0.2 in) wide. It is sometimes confused with the similar Persoonia chamaepitys, but this latter species has more crowded terete leaves.

The dwarf geebung grows in woodland and forest along the tablelands south from the New England district in New South Wales to Victoria where it is widely distributed and locally common in montane and subalpine areas.

This geebung is suitable as a groundcover and has well-displayed flowers. It can be propagated from seed but requires a sunny position in well-drained soil. Although slow growing, it adapts readily to cultivation in areas of temperate climate.

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