{{Short description|Species of shrub}} {{Speciesbox |status = VU |status_system = EPBC |status_ref = <ref name="nsw">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10799|title=Black-eyed Susan - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage|publisher=environment.nsw.gov.au|accessdate=2016-07-24}}</ref> |genus = Tetratheca |species = juncea |authority = Sm. }}
'''''Tetratheca juncea''''', commonly known as '''black-eyed Susan''' or '''pink bells''',<ref name="nla">{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3579824|title=Digital Collections - Pictures - Raper, George, 1769-1796. [Pink bells (Tetratheca juncea) and Senecio moth or Magpie moth (Nyctemera amica)] [picture]|publisher=nla.gov.au|accessdate=2016-07-24}}</ref> is a small shrub in the family Elaeocarpaceae. Endemic to New South Wales, it is not related to other plants known as Black-eyed Susan around the world.
==Description== ''Tetratheca juncea'' has a sprawling habit with stems, usually leafless, between 30 and 60 cm long. Stems usually have 2 to 3 narrow wings which can distinguish the plant from other Tetratheca species. Its four petalled flowers face downward and vary from white to pink to dark purple in colour.<ref name="nsw">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10799|title=Black-eyed Susan - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage|publisher=environment.nsw.gov.au|accessdate=2016-07-24}}</ref>
''Tetratheca juncea'' reproduces by spreading underground stems up to 50 cm or sexually, however this requires pollination by insects.<ref name="nsw">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10799|title=Black-eyed Susan - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage|publisher=environment.nsw.gov.au|accessdate=2016-07-24}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== It is found largely in the grassy groundcover of low open forest/woodland with a mixed shrub understorey. This plant prefers cooler southerly aspects and well-drained soils, thus often occurring on ridges.
The vulnerable status of ''T. juncea'' reflects its confinement to a small area in the northern part of the Sydney Basin bioregion and the southern part of the North Coast bioregion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eraring-energy.com.au/Default.aspx?aCateId=835 |title=Tetratheca Juncea - Eraring Energy |accessdate=2012-09-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321235843/http://www.eraring-energy.com.au/Default.aspx?aCateId=835 |archivedate=2012-03-21 }}</ref> Within that area, however, the plant is quite plentiful.<ref name="theherald">{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/481086/tetratheca-juncea/|title=Tetratheca juncea. | Newcastle Herald|publisher=theherald.com.au|access-date=2016-07-24|date=2008-03-04}}</ref> Larger populations are considered especially important for the conservation of this species.<ref name="nsw">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10799|title=Black-eyed Susan - profile | NSW Environment & Heritage|publisher=environment.nsw.gov.au|accessdate=2016-07-24}}</ref>
==References== {{Wikisource portal|Tetratheca juncea}} {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7706762}}
Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Taxa named by James Edward Smith (botanist) juncea