Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 3, 2026

Ozothamnus hookeri

Ozothamnus hookeri, commonly known as kerosene bush, is an aromatic shrub species, endemic to Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 1 metre in height and has white-tomentose branchlets. The scale-like leaves are 4 to 5 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm wide. These are green on the upper surface, and white tomentose below. The flower heads appear in dense clusters in summer and autumn The species occurs in boggy sites and subalpine heathland New South Wales and Tasmania.

Last revised
Jun 3, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
249 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Ozothamnus hookeri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Ozothamnus
Species:
O. hookeri
Binomial name
Ozothamnus hookeri
Synonyms
  • Baccharis lepidophylla DC.
  • Helichrysum baccharoides F.Muell. nom. illeg.
  • Helichrysum baccharoides F.Muell. ex Benth. nom. illeg.
  • Helichrysum hookeri (Sond.) Druce var. hookeri
  • Helichrysum hookeri (Sond.) Druce
  • Helichrysum lepidophyllum (DC.) Tovey & P.Morris nom. illeg.
  • Helichrysum lepidophyllum (Steetz) F.Muell. ex Benth.
  • Ozothamnus lepidophyllus (DC.) Hook.f. nom. illeg.

Ozothamnus hookeri, commonly known as kerosene bush, is an aromatic shrub species, endemic to Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 1 metre in height and has white-tomentose branchlets. The scale-like leaves are 4 to 5 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm wide. These are green on the upper surface, and white tomentose below.2 The flower heads appear in dense clusters in summer and autumn2 The species occurs in boggy sites and subalpine heathland New South Wales and Tasmania.2

The species was formally described in 1853 by German botanist Otto Wilhelm Sonder.1 The Latin specific epithet hookeri refers to the English botanist William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865).3

References

References

  1. "Ozothamnus hookeri". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. "Ozothamnus hookeri". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  3. Allen J. Coombes The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants, p. 244, at Google Books