Androcalva incilis
Androcalva incilis is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with dark green, narrowly wedge-shaped to narrowly oblong leaves, and crowded heads of 8 to 12 deep pink flowers.
Description
Androcalva incilis is a prostrate shrub that typically grows to high and wide, and forms suckers. Its new growth is covered with white, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are narrowly wedge-shaped to narrowly oblong, long and wide on a petiole long with sometimes divided stipules long at the base. The leaves are dark green with irregular serrations on the edges, both surfaces covered with white, star-shaped hairs, densely so on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged in crowded heads of 8 to 12 on a peduncle long, each flower on a pedicel long, with narrowly egg-shaped bracts long at the base. The flowers are wide with 5 deep pink petal-like sepals and 5 petals, the ligule almost as long as the sepals with wings that partly envelop the stamens. There is usually a single staminode between each pair of stamens. Flowering occurs from July to October.
Taxonomy
Androcalva incilis was first formally described in 2011 by Carolyn Wilkins in Australian [Systematic Botany] from specimens collected from near Tarin Rock in 2005. The specific epithet means "cut-into", referring to the edges of the leaves.
Distribution and habitat
This species mainly grows in heath and woodland between Tarin Rock, Dragon Rocks and Kukerin in the Avon Wheatbelt and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.
Conservation status
Androcalva incilis is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.