Conostylis misera

Conostylis misera
In the Australian National Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Haemodoraceae
Genus: Conostylis
Species:
C. misera
Binomial name
Conostylis misera
Habit

Conostylis misera, commonly known as grass conostylis, is a prostrate, rhizomatous, tufted perennial, grass-like plant or herb in the family Haemodoraceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has flat leaves and bright yellow flowers usually arranged singly on a short flowering stem.

Description

Conostylis misera is a prostrate, rhizomatous, proliferous perennial that typically grows to a height of 5–18 cm (2.0–7.1 in) high. Its leaves are flat, 50–180 mm (2.0–7.1 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) wide and often remain attached to the plant, becoming blackened and twisted. The flowers are borne singly on a flowering stalk 4–20 cm (1.6–7.9 in) long with 2 or 3 glabrous brown bracts. The perianth is bright yellow, 12–19 mm (0.47–0.75 in) long with lobes 10.5–18 mm (0.41–0.71 in) long. The anthers are 4.5–7.0 mm (0.18–0.28 in) long and the style is 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long. Flowering occurs in October and November.

Taxonomy and naming

Conostylis misera was first formally described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae. The specific epithet (misera) means "wretched".

Distribution and habitat

This species of conostylis grows in sandy loam in winter-west flats from Mount Barker and the Porongurups to the Stirling Range in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Conostylis misera is listed as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is in danger of extinction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hartley, Renée; Barrett, Sarah. "Grass Conostylis (Conostylis misera) Recovery Plan" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Conostylis misera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Hopper, S.D; Purdie, R.W; George, A.S; Patrick, S.J. "Conostylis misera". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Conostylis misera". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ↑ "Conostylis misera". APNI. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Endlicher, Stephan (1846). Lehmann, Johann G.C. (ed.). Plantae Preissianae. Vol. 2. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. p. 22. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 229. ISBN 9780958034180.
  8. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 27 December 2023.