Leionema ambiens

Leionema ambiens is a rare shrub growing in the Guyra district of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It has long stem clasping leaves and heads of white flowers in spring and early summer.

Description
Leionema ambiens is a small shrub to 2.5 m high with smooth, mostly needle-shaped stems. The flat leaves may be elliptic, egg-shaped or a wide oblong, 6-10 cm long and 25-40 cm wide, apex either pointed or rounded, stem-clasping, obvious midrib and margins slightly toothed. The inflorescence is a terminal cluster of 20–200 white flowers, petals about 4.5 mm long on an angled pedicel. The seed pod is more or less upright, about 3 mm long with a small beak. Flowering occurs from spring to early summer.

Taxonomy and naming
The species was first formally described in 1868 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Eriostemon ambiens and the description was published in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. In 1998 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Leionema ambiens and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia. The specific epithet (ambiens) is derived from Latin meaning "going around" or "surround".

Distribution and habitat
This species has a restricted distribution, only found in the Guyra district of northern New South Wales growing in heath amongst granite boulders. It also grows in Queensland.