What is "astroloma"

Astroloma is an endemic Australian genus of around 20 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The majority of the species are endemic in Western Australia, but a few species occur in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

The genus was first described by Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.

The name Astroloma is derived from the Ancient Greek words astron = a star and loma = a fringe, alluding to five tufts of hairs which form a star at the bottom of the inside of the floral tube.

Species include:

• Astroloma baxteri A.Cunn. ex DC.
• Astroloma cataphractum A.J.G.Wilson MS
• Astroloma ciliatum (Lindl.) Druce
• Astroloma compactum R.Br.
• Astroloma conostephioides (Sond.) F.Muell. ex Benth. - Flame Heath
• Astroloma drummondii Sond.
• Astroloma epacridis (DC.) Druce
• Astroloma foliosum Sond. - Candle Cranberry
• Astroloma glaucescens Sond.
• Astroloma humifusum (Cav.) R.Br. - Cranberry Heath
• Astroloma macrocalyx Sond.
• Astroloma microcalyx Sond.
• Astroloma microdonta Benth.
• Astroloma microphyllum Stschegl.
• Astroloma pallidum R.Br.
• Astroloma pedicellatum A.J.G.Wilson MS
• Astroloma pinifolium (R.Br.) Benth. - Pine Heath
• Astroloma recurvum A.J.G.Wilson MS
• Astroloma serratifolium (DC.) Druce
• Astroloma stomarrhena Sond.
• Astroloma tectum R.Br.
• Astroloma xerophyllum (DC.) Sond.