Angianthus prostratus
Angianthus prostratus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is a prostrate or low-lying annual herb with linear or lance-shaped leaves, very broadly oval compound heads of 20 to 30 yellow flowers, and oval achenes lacking a pappus.
Description
Angianthus prostratus is a prostrate or low-lying annual herb with hairy stems long. The leaves are arranged alternately, linear or lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide. The flowers are yellow and borne in very broadly oval compound heads of 20 to 30 pseudanthia, the heads long and wide. There are about 10 bracts forming an involucre at the base of the heads, the outer ones leaf-like, and two concave bracts long and two flat bracts long at the base of the pseudanthia. Flowering occurs from July to September and the achenes are oval, long and in diameter and there is no pappus.
Taxonomy
Angianthus prostratus was first formally described in 1983 by Philip Sydney Short in the journal Muelleria from specimens collected south of Leonora, [Western Australia|Leonora] on the road to Menzies. The specific epithet "alludes to the common habit of the species".
Distribution and habitat
This species of Angianthus grows in saline soils near salt lakes, and in loamy soils in Eucalyptus woodland in the Avon Wheatbelt and Murchison bioregions of inland Western Australia.
Conservation status
Angianthus prostratus is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.