Conostylis pusilla

Conostylis pusilla is a 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 hairy yellow flowers usually arranged in pairs on a flowering stem.

Description

Conostylis pusilla is a rhizomatous, tufted, perennial grass-like plant or herb that typically grows to a height of high. Its leaves are flat, straight and rigid, long and wide and glabrous. The flowers are borne in pairs on a flowering stalk long, each flower long on a pedicel long, with a bract long at the base. The perianth is yellow, hairy and long with lobes long. The anthers are long and the style is long. Flowering occurs in September and October.
This species is similar to Conostylis setigera, but is smaller in all respects.

Taxonomy and naming

Conostylis pusilla was first formally described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae. The specific epithet means "very small".

Distribution and habitat

This species of conostylis grows in sandy loam, clay or sand in woodland and mallee heath from near York to Frankland and Bremer Bay in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Conostylis pusilla is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.