''Asperula asthenes'' is a species of flowering plant in the family

Rubiaceae Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with Petiole ( ...

, known as trailing woodruff, and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the east coast of

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Description

This is a low perennial herb. Leaves are arranged in whorls of four around the stem. The flowers are small, white and star-shaped; fruit are tiny and two-lobed, 1 mm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in New South Wales only, growing in damp areas mainly along river banks. Reported locations are the Central Coast north to near Kempsey, and the Port Stephens, Wallis Lake and Forster area.

Threats

The species is under threat from herbicide use, invasive weed species, and disturbance from stock grazing.

Water table The water table is the upper surface of the phreatic zone or zone of saturation. The zone of saturation is where the pores and fractures of the ground are saturated with groundwater, which may be fresh, saline, or brackish, depending on the loc ...

raising to reduce acid sulphate discharge may be potentially be detrimental.

References

asthenes Canasteros and thistletails are small passerine birds of South America belonging to the genus ''Asthenes''. The name "canastero" comes from Spanish language, Spanish and means "basket-maker", referring to the large, domed nests these species mak ...

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