Leaves simple, alternate, petiolate; stipules brown, scarious, usually shed early.
Flowers usually yellow or sometimes whitish [rarely pink], mostly c. 2 mm long, clustered in small cymes mostly grouped into terminal panicles or corymbs, sometimes in head-like clusters; bracts surrounding buds usually shed early. Hypanthium fused to ovary and disc, but often apparently absent.. Sepals 5, often reflexed. Petals absent or 5 and often falling early, not enclosing the stamens. Stamens 5; filaments usually long and incurved. Disc annular, surrounding the base of the ovary. Ovary ± half-inferior.
Capsule septicidal, generally fused for about half its length to the hypanthium; separating into 3 pyrenes that open on the inner face.
Neville Walsh of the National Herbarium of Victoria has assisted in the updating of this treatment in line with his recent research.
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves ± toothed or margins appearing uneven due to marginal tufts of hairs, secondary veins commonly reaching the margins (rarely looping to the inside) and terminating in minute hair tufts | 3 |
| Leaves entire or rarely slightly crenate, secondary veins either obscure or looping to inside and not reaching the margins | 2 |
| 2 | Upper surface of leaves hairy (at least when young) | 11 |
| Upper surface of leaves glabrous, sometimes a few hairs along veins
Back to 1 | 30 |
| 3 | Leaves >5 cm long; flowers in loose elongated panicles, 8–25 cm long | Pomaderris aspera |
| Leaves <5 cm long; flowers in head-like clusters or short panicles
Back to 34 | 4 |
| 4 | Leaves regularly <5 mm wide | Pomaderris pauciflora |
| Leaves generally >5 mm wide
Back to 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Lower surface of leaves and young stems densely hairy with long brownish simple hairs above a whitish tomentum | 6 |
| Lower surface of leaves and young stems ± less hoary with stellate hairs, rusty, whitish or greenish
Back to 4 | 7 |
| 6 | Upper surface of leaves with sparse to dense simple hairs | Pomaderris eriocephala |
| Upper surface of leaves glabrous
Back to 5 | Pomaderris brunnea |
| 7 | Upper leaf surface sparsely to densely hairy | 8 |
| Upper leaf surface glabrous or almost so
Back to 5 | 10 |
| 8 | Leaves stellate-hairy on both surfaces, lower surface greenish, epidermis visible between the stellate hairs | Pomaderris viridis |
| Leaves with simple hairs on upper surface, lower surface closely tomentose, whitish to rusty-coloured, epidermis not visible between hairs
Back to 7 | 9 |
| 9 | Flowers shortly pedicellate in short panicles, bracts falling early; stigma divided almost to base | Pomaderris prunifolia |
| Flowers sessile in dense head-like clusters surrounded by bracts, bracts persistent until flowers open; stigma divided to about midway
Back to 8 | Pomaderris betulina |
| 10 | Leaves elliptic to obovate, 15–40 mm long, 8–22 mm wide, margins without a whitish border; hypanthium, sepals and capsule with long simple hairs over a short whitish tomentum; chiefly on the coast and ranges, west to Burrinjuck (SWS) | Pomaderris betulina |
| Leaves ovate to broad-elliptic, usually 10–20 mm long, 5–15 mm wide, margins often with a narrow whitish border; hypanthium, sepals and capsule with only short stellate hairs; doubtfully in far western N.S.W. (FWP)
Back to 7 | Pomaderris paniculosa |
| 11 | Leaves ± narrow-oblong to linear, lamina usually <6 mm wide and mostly <20 mm long; flowers in short axillary cymes forming narrow terminal leafy panicles | 12 |
| Leaves broader, lanceolate to ± circular, leaves usually >5 mm wide and mostly >20 mm long (or if <20 mm long then lamina ± circular to broad-ovate or elliptic); flowers in terminal generally leafless panicles, often corymbose or in dense head-like clusters
Back to 2 | 18 |
| 12 | Leaves <1.5 mm wide, ± terete, margins strongly revolute, lower surface of lamina not visible | Pomaderris phylicifolia |
| Leaves >1.5 mm wide, ± flat, margins recurved but at least part of lower surface of lamina visible
Back to 11 | 13 |
| 13 | Secondary veins not apparent on either surface, lamina usually <3 mm wide; capsule glabrous or hairy | 14 |
| Secondary veins visible on both surfaces of leaves or rarely only apparent on lower surface; lamina mostly >3 mm wide; capsule hairy
Back to 12 | 16 |
| 14 | Capsule and ovary glabrous, capsule almost entirely exserted from shortly tomentose hypanthium | 15 |
| Capsule and ovary hairy, acute, immersed for about a third of its length in the tomentose hypanthium
Back to 13 | Pomaderris phylicifolia |
| 15 | Upper surface of leaves bristly with scattered stellate hairs; leaves ± narrow-oblong, margins recurved | Pomaderris angustifolia |
| Upper surface of leaves bristly with scattered simple hairs; leaves narrow-elliptic to oblanceolate, ± flat
Back to 14 | Pomaderris helianthemifolia |
| 16 | Upper surface of leaves velvety with a covering of minute stellate hairs | Pomaderris pallida |
| Upper surface of leaves bristly with scattered simple hairs, sometimes hairs clustered
Back to 13 | 17 |
| 17 | Leaves with margins ± crenate, primary and secondary veins conspicuously impressed on upper surface | Pomaderris pauciflora |
| Leaves with margins entire, usually only primary vein impressed on upper surface
Back to 16 | Pomaderris phylicifolia |
| 18 | Leaves mostly <8 mm long and <6 mm wide; lower surface of leaves and branchlets coarsely stellate-hairy | Pomaderris elachophylla |
| Leaves mostly >10 mm long and >6 mm wide, if smaller then lower surface of leaves and branchlets finely stellate-hairy
Back to 11 | 19 |
| 19 | Leaves rusty-hairy on lower surface at least along the secondary veins, young stems and leaves usually densely rusty-hairy with long rusty hairs | 20 |
| Mature leaves not rusty on lower surface; young stems and leaves not or rarely rusty, if rusty then long spreading rusty hairs absent
Back to 18 | 26 |
| 20 | Flowers 3–5 mm long; petals present; leaves often >30 mm long | 21 |
| Flowers 2–2.5 mm long, in head-like clusters or short panicles; petals present or absent; leaves mostly <30 mm long
Back to 19 | 22 |
| 21 | Upper surface of leaves with sparse to moderately dense simple hairs, often ± bristly; secondary and usually tertiary veins distinct on lower surface of lamina; lamina lanceolate to ovate, sometimes elliptic, apex ± acute to rounded | Pomaderris lanigera |
| Upper surface of leaves with short dense simple hairs, velvety; only secondary veins distinct on lower surface; lamina ± oblong to circular, apex obtuse to emarginate
Back to 20 | Pomaderris vellea |
| 22 | Secondary veins commonly terminating in minute hair tufts, margins ± crenate to toothed, upper leaf surface ± scabrous, hairs sparse; petals absent (return to couplet 3) | 3 |
| Secondary veins looping to inside of margins, margins entire, upper leaf surface ± velvety, hairs dense; petals generally present (mostly absent in P. cocoparrana)
Back to 20 | 23 |
| 23 | Flowers ± sessile in relatively compact clusters, bracts usually persistent until fruit formed | Pomaderris subcapitata |
| Flowers pedicellate in loose panicles, bracts falling before flowers open
Back to 22 | 24 |
| 24 | Leaves oblong to ± elliptic, upper surface dull grey-green; petals usually present; species of the coast and ranges | Pomaderris velutina |
| Leaves ovate to ± less circular, upper surface ± shining dark green; petals usually absent; western species
Back to 23 | 25 |
| 25 | Hairs on upper surface of leaves sparse, simple; hairs on young stems and lower surface of leaves stellate; coast and ranges | Pomaderris cotoneaster |
| Hairs on upper surface of leaves dense (but very short), simple; hairs on young stems and leaf lower surface mostly simple; inland species
Back to 24 | Pomaderris cocoparrana |
| 26 | Upper surface of leaves with a dense very fine soft pubescence, ± velvety, sometimes hairs very sparse | 27 |
| Upper surface of leaves ± bristly, not velvety, hairs scattered to very sparse
Back to 19 | Pomaderris cotoneaster |
| 27 | Leaves usually <15 mm long; obovate to ± circular; 0.6–2 cm long, 5–14 mm wide | Pomaderris brogoensis |
| Leaves usually >15 mm long; ovate, elliptic to broad-ovate, 1–5 cm long, 8–20 mm wide
Back to 26 | 28 |
| 28 | Leaves greyish on upper surface; coastal ranges of the south coast: SC, ST | Pomaderris cinerea |
| Leaves green on upper surface; inland ranges and upper Hunter Valley: CWS, NC, CC
Back to 27 | 29 |
| 29 | Petals present; chiefly in and near the Rylstone-Bylong area, also gorges near Hillgrove | Pomaderris precaria |
| Petals absent; confined to the Denman area
Back to 28 | Pomaderris reperta |
| 30 | Most leaves small, either <10 mm wide or mostly <30 mm long | 31 |
| Most leaves larger, >10 mm wide and mostly >25 mm long (leaves associated with inflorescences often smaller)
Back to 2 | 40 |
| 31 | Secondary veins obscure on lower surface; leaves <4 mm wide, generally 10–15 mm long | 32 |
| Secondary veins distinct on lower surface; leaves usually >4 mm wide and 10–30 mm long
Back to 30 | 34 |
| 32 | Petals absent; stems and lower surface of leaves with long fawnish to golden-brown hairs, margins prominently recurved | 33 |
| Petals present; stems and lower leaf surface with short whitish hairs, margins thickened but not always recurved
Back to 31 | Pomaderris ledifolia |
| 33 | Hairs on new growth and lower surface of leaves short and appressed, shining golden-brown | Pomaderris sericea |
| Hairs on new growth and lower surface of leaves long and spreading, fawnish above a short whitish tomentum
Back to 32 | Pomaderris mediora |
| 34 | Leaves with secondary veins looping and not reaching the margins, margins entire and without hair tufts | 35 |
| Leaves with secondary veins reaching the margins (rarely looping to inside) and commonly terminating in minute hair tufts, margins ± crenate (return to couplet 3)
Back to 31 | 3 |
| 35 | Species growing south from Sydney | 36 |
| Species growing north from the upper Hunter Valley
Back to 34 | 39 |
| 36 | Lower surface of leaves appearing silky, with a short greyish tomentum and longer forwardly appressed rusty hairs; upper surface of leaves often wrinkled; secondary veins usually >6 pairs | Pomaderris andromedifolia |
| Lower surface of leaves not appearing silky, with a short greyish tomentum, all hairs ± the same length; upper surface of leaves smooth; secondary veins 3–6 pairs
Back to 35 | 37 |
| 37 | Petals absent; species confined to the escarpment ranges inland from Moruya (SC) | Pomaderris gilmourii |
| Petals present on most flowers (but sometimes fewer than 5); confined to Sublime Point (CC) and Bungonia-Goulburn area (ST)
Back to 36 | 38 |
| 38 | Flowers cream; leaves 3–8 mm wide, confined to Sublime Point (CC) | Pomaderris adnata |
| Flowers golden-yellow; leaves 5–15 mm wide; restricted to the Bungonia-Goulburn area (ST)
Back to 37 | Pomaderris delicata |
| 39 | Sepals 1.5–2 mm long; petals absent; chiefly from Guyra district to Gibraltar Range National Park | Pomaderris ligustrina |
| Sepals 2–2.5 mm long; petals usually present; mostly north from Gibraltar Range National Park, also near Wingen, Hillgrove and Inverell
Back to 35 | Pomaderris graniticola |
| 40 | Lower surface of leaves silvery- or rusty-hairy; secondary veins regularly arranged, tertiary veins sometimes obscure; flowers mostly pale when fresh, cream to whitish | 41 |
| Lower surface of leaves dull greyish to whitish hairy, rarely with rusty hairs on midvein; secondary veins not regularly arranged, tertiary veins usually distinct on lower surface; flowers cream to yellow
Back to 30 | 50 |
| 41 | Lower surface of mature leaves silvery or whitish (rarely rusty) with a dense covering of hairs of similar length (veins, margins and petioles sometimes rusty), new growth and young stems with ± short dense coppery to reddish hairs; tertiary veins usually not apparent | 42 |
| Lower surface of leaves ± rusty with loose simple rusty hairs longer than the paler short tomentum, especially rusty along veins; new growth and young stems with long spreading rusty hairs; tertiary veins obscure or apparent
Back to 40 | 47 |
| 42 | North from Barrington Tops; petals usually present, falling early | 43 |
| South of Barrington Tops, chiefly on the SC and ST; petals absent or present
Back to 41 | 44 |
| 43 | Lower surface of leaves not silky, tomentum of short curly hairs and sometimes with longer straight hairs; leaves mostly >5 cm long; sepals 1.3–2.5 mm long | Pomaderris argyrophylla |
| Lower surface of leaves silky with hairs lying in the same direction; leaves generally <5 cm long; sepals 2–2.5 mm long
Back to 42 | Pomaderris nitidula |
| 44 | Petals present; sepals 2.5–3 mm long | Pomaderris parrisiae |
| Petals absent; sepals 1.5–2.2 mm long
Back to 42 | 45 |
| 45 | Leaves lanceolate to oblong, >3 times as long as wide; hairs on new growth coppery-coloured to crimson; secondary veins on lower surface of leaves visible but immersed within hair layer | Pomaderris virgata |
| Leaves ovate to broad-ovate or elliptic, <3 times as long as wide; hairs on new growth fawn to golden; secondary veins on lower surface of leaves protruding above hair layer between veins
Back to 44 | 46 |
| 46 | Leaves with >6 pairs of secondary veins; simple hairs on young growth very dense, <0.4 mm long, forming an even, distinctly rusty layer | Pomaderris costata |
| Leaves with 4–6 pairs of secondary veins; simple hairs on young growth thread-like, the longest >0.5 mm, forming a sparse, uneven layer over the short grey stellate tomentum
Back to 45 | Pomaderris bodalla |
| 47 | Leaves either usually <15 mm wide or <3 cm long; lower surface with longer forwardly appressed hairs, hairs usually obscuring tertiary veins; either petals auriculate and margins toothed or petals absent | 48 |
| Leaves usually >15 mm wide and >3 cm long; lower surface with longer curly rusty hairs above whitish tomentum, tertiary veins generally apparent; petals usually present, entire and narrow or petals absent
Back to 41 | 49 |
| 48 | Petals auriculate, margins toothed; lower surface of leaves pale, sometimes rusty, with secondary veins distinct | Pomaderris andromedifolia |
| Petals absent; lower surface of leaves generally rusty with secondary veins often obscure
Back to 47 | Pomaderris ligustrina |
| 49 | Simple hairs on lower surface of leaves and young stems appressed to spreading, straight or curved but not flexuous; leaves with apex acute to obtuse; widespread south of Stroud | Pomaderris ferruginea |
| Simple hairs on lower surface of leaves and young stems spreading, flexuous, rusty, very dense, appearing woolly; leaves with apex obtuse; north of Gloucester district (NC)
Back to 47 | Pomaderris crassifolia |
| 50 | Stems and at least main veins on lower surface of leaves with scattered long hairs over short whitish tomentum | 51 |
| Branches and lower surface of leaves, including veins, covered with short tomentum, longer simple hairs ± absent
Back to 40 | 54 |
| 51 | Petals present, auriculate | Pomaderris intermedia |
| Petals usually absent, if present then not auriculate
Back to 50 | 52 |
| 52 | Long hairs usually confined to main veins on lower leaf surface; margins recurved or not recurved | 53 |
| Long hairs scattered over lower leaf surface as well as veins; margins not recurved
Back to 51 | Pomaderris queenslandica |
| 53 | Leaf margins recurved; leaves pointed at apex; simple hairs on lower surface pale | Pomaderris discolor |
| Leaf margins not recurved; leaves obtuse; simple hairs on lower surface rusty
Back to 52 | Pomaderris pilifera |
| 54 | Petals absent; rare species, north from Mt Warning | Pomaderris notata |
| Petals present, ± auriculate; widespread species, south of Taree
Back to 50 | Pomaderris elliptica |
