Dwarf Kerrawang

The Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata is a tap-rooted, prostrate shrub with trailing branches of up to two metres long. The alternately arranged leaves are oval shaped, up to 5cm long and 3cm wide, with toothed margins. Flowers are white or pink and appear in spring clustered at the end of stalks. It typically grows on peaty soils on the margins of wetlands dominated by Lepidosperma longitudinale in open locations (Walsh & Entwisle 1996; James 2002).

The Dwarf Kerrawang is listed as endangered nationally and in Victoria. The species was first recorded at Dutson Downs in 2007 during a flora survey conducted by Wildlife Unlimited and the Latrobe Valley and Bairnsdale Field Naturalists Clubs (Douglas et al. 2008). The Dwarf Kerrawang has been observed in at least 17 wetlands at Dutson Downs. The number of plants observed per wetland ranges between 2 and 225 (Douglas, Nieuwland and Reside 2009).

Management plans for the Dwarf Kerrawang within Dutson Downs are currently being drafted.