White Marianth, Rhytidosporum procumbens, is a very small shrub that grows throughout south-eastern Australia.

The species was first formally described in 1836 as Pittosporum procumbens by English botanist William Jackson Hooker in "Companion to the Botanical Magazine". The species was transferred to the genus Rhytidosporum in 1862 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller.

I had trouble identifying this species, and thank the Australian Plant Society for their assistance. The species is difficult as it has characteristics of several different plant families: heath-like foliage, orchid-like flowers, and fleshy fruits. It seems I’ve not been the only one; samples of the species have been filed as:
·    Billardiera procumbens (Hook.) E.M.Benn.
·    Bursaria procumbens (Hook.) Putt.
·    Bursaria stuartiana F.Muell. ex Klatt
·    Campylanthera ericoides Lindl.
·    Marianthus procumbens (Hook.) Benth.
·    Pittosporum nanum Hook.
·    Pittosporum procumbens Hook.
·    Pronaya ericoides (Lindl.) Walp.
·    Rhytidosporum procumbens F.Muell. nom. inval.
·    Rhytidosporum stuartianum F.Muell. nom. inval.
·    Rhytidosporum stuartianum F.Muell. ex Hook.f.

The example photographed here was found as a dwarf species, behind the Mandeni sign, at the turn-off on Sapphire Coast Drive.

Photos

Click on any thumbnail to download a high resolution image (T. Hastings 5/9/11)

For more information see NSW Flora Online