Thryptomene dampieri

Thryptomene dampieri is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the north-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with prostrate stems, broadly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and pinkish flowers with five petals and ten stamens.

Description

Thryptomene dampieri is usually a low, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of with sprawling or prostrate stems that often form adventitious roots. Its leaves are more or less pressed against the stem, egg-shaped with the lower end towards the base, long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are arranged in pairs in groups of up to eight along flowering branchlets on a peduncle long with egg-shaped bracteoles long that remain until the fruit is shed. The flowers are in diameter with pale pink, egg-shaped sepals long. The petals are pink or pinkish-purple, long and there are usually ten stamens. Flowering occurs from April to September.

Taxonomy

Thryptomene dampieri was first formally described in 2014 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by John Green near Denham in 1957. The specific epithet honours William Dampier who collected this species near Shark Bay in 1699.

Distribution and habitat

This thryptomene grows in sand on dunes and limestone from near Exmouth to Hamelin Bay and on several off-shore islands.

Conservation status

Thryptomene dampieri is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. The species occurs in a long stretch of the coast of Western Australia north of Shark Bay.