Darwinia fascicularis
Darwinia fascicularis is shrub in the myrtle family and is endemic to areas near Sydney. A small shrub with aromatic foliage and white flowers, turning red as they mature. Nectar feeding birds are attracted to its flowers as a food source. Description. "Darwinia fascicularis" is a pleasantly scented small plant up to tall. The light green needle-like leaves are small, smooth, almost cylindrical and long. The leaves are crowded, arranged opposite or whorled on spreading branches. The flowers are white on a peduncle long. The flowers resemble a pin-cushion appearing in clusters of 4-20 flowers  at the end of branches turning red as they age. The prominent styles are straight or curved, long and either white or red. The bracts are leaf-like or triangular, dry, translucent and about long. The smaller bracts may be oblong or triangular shaped, long and falling off early. The tubular flowers are long and in diameter with rounded ribbing. The sepals are usually toothed and triangular and about half the length of the petals. Flowering occurs from June to September. Taxonomy and naming. "Darwinia fascicularis" was first formally described by Edward Rudge in 1816 and published in "Transactions of  the Linnean Society of London". The specific epithet ("fascicularis") is derived from the Latin word "fasciculus" meaning a "little bundle", in reference to the cluster of leaves at the ends of the branchlets. Two subspecies are recognised by the Australian Plant Census. Distribution and habitat. "Darwinia fascicularis" grows from as far north as Gosford in the Central Coast to Bulli near Wollongong. The habitat is poor sandy soils, in dry eucalyptus forest or heathlands in high rainfall areas. Uses in horticulture. "Darwinia fascicularis" is a hardy species, for an open sunny situation in well-drained soil. Several native birds are  attracted to this species of "Darwinia" as a source of nectar they include the New Holland honeyeater ("Phylidonyris novaehollandiae"), tawny-crowned honeyeater ("Gliciphila melanops") and eastern spinebill ("Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris"). This genus believed to be predominantly pollinated by birds.