Australina pusilla

Common name: 

Shade Nettle

Family: 

Urticaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, East Gippsland (KNPRSTVWZ) also NSW, ACT, Tas

Map - Australia's Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Dark or damp places in the moist undergrowth of forests south of Darby River and along Sealers Cove track1,2

Flower description:

Insignificant1

Habit:

Perennial herb with stems to 20 cm high2

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

Two subspecies are present at the Prom Australina pusilla subsp. pusilla has leaves that are shorter than 1.5 cm long with 2-3 teeth on each side of the lamina. Australina pusilla subsp. muelleri has leaves that are 1.5-6 cm long and 4-6 teeth on each side of the lamina2

Images:
Image of Australina pusilla
Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia

Links to description of this species:
Conservation status:

Australina pusilla subsp. pusilla is rare in Victoria

References:

1 Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.
2 Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria