Common name: Thyme Pink-bells, Black-eyed Susan
Tetratheca thymifolia Sm. APNI* 
Description: Erect straggling shrub, usually 2–100 cm high; stems terete, with bristly ridges.
Leaves usually in whorls of 3–5, rarely opposite, alternate or in whorls of 6, very broad- to narrow-elliptic, rarely linear or circular, 2–20 mm long, 1–8 mm wide, ± glabrous or hairy, margins loosely revolute, recurved or rarely flat; petiole c. 1 mm long.
Flowers solitary, rarely paired; peduncles lengthening as the flower matures, 5–23 mm long. Sepals 1.5–5 mm long. Petals 6–15 mm long, deep lilac-pink. Ovary densely hairy; ovules 4.
Fruit often irregularly beaked, cordate to cuneate or depressed-globose, 4–6 mm long; seeds 2.5–3 mm long.
Flowering: throughout year but mostly September–November
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in heath and dry sclerophyll forest on sandy soils.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
This species hybridizes with T. rubioides.
Text by C. Gardner & L. Murray
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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