Micromyrtus erichsenii
Micromyrtus erichsenii is a species of the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with small, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white or cream-coloured flowers in diameter and 5 to 10 stamens.
Description
Micromyrtus erichsenii is an erect shrub that typically grows to high. Its leaves are erect to almost pressed against the stem, egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are about in diameter, and arranged in up to 9 upper leaf axils on a peduncle long with egg-shaped bracteoles long but that fall off as the flower opens. The sepals are broadly egg-shaped, wide and the petals are white or cream-coloured, broadly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and long. There are 5 to 10 stamens, the anthers about long. Flowering occurs between February and November and the fruit is long and wide containing a single seed.
Taxonomy
Micromyrtus erichsenii was first formally described in 1905 by William Hensley in Hooker's Icones Plantarum from specimens collected near Dedari. The specific epithet honours Frederick Ole Erickson.
Distribution and habitat
This species grows on sandplains in shrubland or open woodland between Merredin, Coolgardie, Newdegate and Norseman.