About Styphelia tubiflora Sm.
Styphelia tubiflora Sm. is an erect to spreading shrub that typically reaches a height of 20–90 cm (7.9–35.4 in), with soft hairs covering its branchlets. Its leaves are oblong or egg-shaped, with the narrower end positioned toward the base, and measure 7–24 mm (0.28–0.94 in) long and 1.5–3.3 mm (0.059–0.130 in) wide, borne on a petiole 0.4–0.6 mm (0.016–0.024 in) long. The leaf tip tapers to a point, and the upper leaf surface is often rough to the touch. Flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils, and are nearly sessile or borne on a very short peduncle. They are usually red, but sometimes cream-coloured or pale yellowish-green. There are bracteoles 2.6–4.0 mm (0.10–0.16 in) long at the base of each flower, and the sepals are 8.4–11.4 mm (0.33–0.45 in) long. The petals are joined at their base to form a tube 14.6–25 mm (0.57–0.98 in) long, with narrow lobes 11.5–14.0 mm (0.45–0.55 in) long. Flowering takes place from April to August. The fruit is a dry, rounded capsule about 5 mm (0.20 in) long, with a tiny "skirt" around one end. This species, commonly called red five-corners, grows on ridges and hillsides in woodland, forest, and heath. It is widespread across the area between Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and Jervis Bay.
