Short-rhizomed, branched, woody shrub to about 4 m. Leaves up to 50 cm long, numerous, linear, slightly curved basally. Inflorescence a branched panicle. Flowers numerous, stalks 1-2 mm long; late spring.Tepals to 10 mm long, bluishpurple, fused basally, inner 3 longer. Fruit red, to 10 mm wide.

Qld & NSW.

C. banksii Hook. from New Zealand is a short-rhizomed, branched, woody shrub to about 4 m. Leaves up to 2 m long, numerous, linear to lance shaped, flat. Inflorescence a branched panicle. Flowers numerous, more or less sessile, scented; late spring. Tepals to 10 mm long, spreading, white, shortly fused basally. Fruit white or bluish, about 5 mm wide.

C. indivisa (J.R. Forst.) Steud. from New Zealand is a short-rhizomed, fewbranched woody tree to about 8 m. Leaves up to 2 m long, numerous, narrowly lance-shaped, flat. Inflorescence a branched panicle. Flowers numerous, scented, stalks 2-3 mm long; late spring.Tepals to 8 mm long, recurved, white inside, pale purple outside, short fused basally. Fruit bluish, about 6 mm wide. Grown as a cool climate ornamental tree. Most plants grown in Australia as C. indivisa are probably forms of C. australis.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Laxmanniaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.