Darwinia thymoides

Darwinia thymoides is a low, spreading to prostrate shrub that typically grows to a height of 10–30 centimetres (4–10 in) and often forms mats. Its leaves are mostly arranged in opposite pairs, linear to lance-shaped, 6.0–8.5 mm (0.24–0.33 in) long with the edges rolled under. The flowers are arranged on the ends of branches in sessile groups of 4 to 8, surrounded by leaf-like bracts and short, broad bracteoles that fall off early. The sepals are thin, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and glabrous but with 5 longitudinal ridges and the petals are green, red or white with a curved style that is bearded at first. Flowering mainly occurs in December and January.[2][3]

This species was first formally described in 1839 by John Lindley who gave it the name Hedaroma thymoides in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[4][5] In 1865, George Bentham changed the name to Darwinia thymoides in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany.[6] The specific epithet (thymoides) means "thyme-like".[7]

Darwinia thymoides grows on granite outcrops and along creeks in sandy to loam or clay soils in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[3]