Pomaderris apetala is a small tree or large shrub[1] from the family Rhamnaceae, growing in Victoria, New Zealand and Tasmania.

[7][8] The a of apetala means “without”,[8] and petala is derived from the Latin phrase petalum which is currently used in botanical nomenclature for “petals”.

[8] Pomaderris apetala was first described in the publication Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen by Jacques - Julien Houtou de Labillardière in 1805.

maritima was first described by N. G. Walsh and F. Coates in the publication New Taxa, New Combinations and an Infrageneric Classification in Pomaderris (Rhamnaceae) in 1997.

[8][2][13] On the abaxial surface, leaves are a pale greyish colour and have prominent veins covered with fine, greyish-brown, dense, sessile star-shaped hairs.

[8][2][13] Inflorescence consists of large panicles with pale yellow, cream, or greenish coloured flowers.

[2][8][16] Flowers are also small, exist in terminal clusters, have no petals, and have ovaries which are practically inferior.

[2] common dogwood (Tasmania),[19] Grampians Pomaderris (Victoria)[20] Typically exists as a shrub or tree 2-15m tall.

[2] In Tasmania, P. apetala is usually one of the main components of the Tasmanian wet sclerophyll forest understorey.

These forests tend to reside within fire protected gullies and scree slopes of dryer sites.

[31][13] P. apetala has also been recorded within mixed forest and rainforest sites that have been disturbed by logging or fire.

[14][32][33] Pomaderris apetala can be useful for streamside stabilisation due to its good soil binding qualities.

This species is frost hardy, and should be grown in moist, acidic soils that are well drained and have a shady aspect.

‘Vulnerable’ is used for taxa that are not presently in danger, but may soon decline because their populations are located in areas threatened by land use change.