Bog candle heath

Description

Richea gunnii is a common montane shrub that grows in boggy areas It is an erect shrub, 30–100 cm high. The branches are divaricate. Mature stems become bare of leaves and show prominent annular scars. The leaves are generally clustered in the top 5–20 cm of the branches. The leaves are spreading, rigid and usually recurved. They are 30–60 mm long × 5–7 mm wide and taper to an acute apex R. gunnii flowers in summer, late December to February The flowers are white The inflorescence are 30–100mm × 10–15 mm, they are terminal and erect on a spike-like panicle, maturing acropetally. The internodes are 3–5 mm long, becoming shorter towards the apex. The petals are fused to form a cap which is shed to expose the stamens