Lasiopetalum compactum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with leathery, narrowly oblong leaves and cymes of white to pinkish flowers.
| Lasiopetalum compactum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Lasiopetalum |
| Species: | L. compactum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lasiopetalum compactum | |
Description
editLasiopetalum compactum is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in), its branchlets covered with rust-coloured to grey, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are leathery, narrowly oblong, 10–60 mm (0.39–2.36 in) long and 4–13 mm (0.16–0.51 in) wide on a hairy petiole 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long. The upper surfaces of the leaves is more or less glabrous and the lower surface is covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs, the mid-rib prominent. The flowers are arranged in cymes of five to seven 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) long, the peduncle 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long with linear bracts about 5 mm (0.20 in) long at the base and three linear bracteoles about 7 mm (0.28 in) long at the base of the sepals. The sepals are pink, densely covered with white, woolly star-shaped hairs on the back and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long with five narrowly egg-shaped lobes. The petals are spatula-shaped, about 1 mm (0.039 in) long and there are five stamens. Flowering occurs from July to October.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editLasiopetalum compactum was first formally described in 1974 by Susan Paust in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Ravensthorpe in 1968.[2][4] The specific epithet (compactum) "refers to the inflorescence".[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis lasiopetalum grows on rocky hillsides and among granite rocks, between the Fitzgerald River and Mount Burdett in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.[3][2]
Conservation status
editLasiopetalum compactum is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Lasiopetalum compactum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d Paust, Susan (1974). "Taxonomic studies in Thomasia and Lasiopetalum (Sterculiaceae)". Nuytsia. 1 (4): 362–373, 366. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ a b c "Lasiopetalum compactum". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Lasiopetalum compactum". APNI. Retrieved 6 February 2022.