The needlewood occurs in only very small numbers at Fowlers Gap, mostly in South Sandstone Paddock.

They are a large shrub to small tree with an open, often rounded, crown.

Bark: rough at base, smooth pinkish-red coloured on upper branches.
Leaves: alternate, needle-like, 3-8 cm, 1.5 mm wide, rigid, cylindrical straight, with white pubescent hairs and a sharp spine at the tip.
Flowers: occur in clusters of 18-45 white to cream in colour, on a short axis with white wooly hairs.
Fruit: woody capsules 17-32 mm long, rounded at base tapering into a narrow beak, opeing lengthways into 2 halves.
Source: Frank Kutsche and Brendan Lay (2003). Field guide to the plants of outback South Australia. Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia, ISBN 0 7590 1052 8.
Phillip Moore (2005). A guide to plants of inland Australia. Reed New Holland, ISBN 1 876334 86 X.
Photos: Ian Roach

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