Lasiopetalum microcardium | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Malvaceae |
Genus: | Lasiopetalum |
Species: | L. microcardium
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Binomial name | |
Lasiopetalum microcardium |
Lasiopetalum microcardium is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading or straggling shrub with hairy stems, heart-shaped leaves and blue, purple or white flowers.
Lasiopetalum microcardium is a low, spreading or straggling shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–70 cm (7.9–27.6 in) and has hairy stems. The leaves are heart-shaped, 8–20 mm (0.31–0.79 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) wide. The flowers are borne on a pedicel 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long with bracteoles 4.0–4.8 mm (0.16–0.19 in) long below the base of the sepals. The sepals are petal-like, blue, pink or white, 7.0–8.5 mm (0.28–0.33 in) long and joined near the base. There are no petals and the anthers are 2.0–2.3 mm (0.079–0.091 in) long on a filament 0.3–1.2 mm (0.012–0.047 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to December. [2]
Lasiopetalum microcardium was first formally described in 1904 by Ernst Georg Pritzel in Engler's journal Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. [3] [4] The specific epithet (microcardium) means "a small heart" referring to the size and shape of the leaves. [5]
This lasiopetalum grows in lateritic soils on ridges and breakaways in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia. [2]
Lasiopetalum microcardium is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [2]