Boronia imlayensis
Species of flowering plant
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Boronia imlayensis grows as a small shrub to 1 m (3 ft) high. It has hairy, warty stems, and pinnate leaves, which are made up of seven to eleven smaller leaflets, each one lozenge-shaped and measuring 3.5 to 16 mm in length and 1–4 mm wide. Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer (September to December). The inflorescences are made up of three to nine small flowers which range in colour from white to a dark pink. Each flower has four petals which range from 5 to 7.5 mm in length.
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Taxonomy
Boronia imlayensis was first formally described in 2003 by botanist Marco Duretto in the journal Muelleria from specimens he collected on a Mt Imlay ridgetop in 1995. Its specific name refers to the place where it is found, Mount Imlay.
Within the genus Boronia, this species is placed in the type series Boronia which contains well known species such as Boronia megastigma. Within this, it belongs to a group of 25 species of pinnate-leaved boronias from southeastern Australia, many of which have restricted ranges. Its relatives include B. citriodora, B. gunnii, B. latipinna, B. muelleri, B. pinnata, B. rivularis, B. safrolifera and B. thujona.
Distribution and habitat
The species is found only in eucalypt woodland on a ridge atop Mount Imlay in Mount Imlay National Park near Eden in far southern New South Wales.
As of April 2010 there was no official status for this rare plant, despite it being found only at Mount Imlay in an area which is only 500 metres long by about 50 metres wide.
As of September 2024 it is listed as "critically endangered" under the EPBC Act.
Cultivation
The species is unknown in cultivation. Boronias in general are sensitive to dieback and tend to be short-lived.