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Diplolaena microcephala Bartl.
Lesser Diplolaena

Reference
Lehm., Pl.Preiss. [J.G.C.Lehmann] 1:173 (1845)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Spreading shrub, (0.2-)0.5-2 m high, leaves elliptic, leaf hairs ca 0.7 mm diameter, outer involucral bracts rusty. Fl. red-green/red-orange-pink, Jul to Dec or Jan. Sand, sandy gravelly soils, rocky loam. Granite hills & outcrops, river banks.

Helen Coleman, Descriptive Catalogue, 26 May 1998
Image

Scientific Description

Shrub, spines absent; branchlets smooth, without distinct raised glands, +/- cylindrical in cross-section, covered in hairs or scales, the hairs stellate (star-shaped). Leaves opposite, simple, 7-25 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, flat, the margins flat, smooth, without distinct raised glands, covered in hairs or scales, with stellate (star shaped) hairs; stipular excrescences absent. Flowers in a distinct head surrounded by bracts, the outer bracts 8-12 mm long; pedicels 3-5 mm long; calyx minute or absent, smooth, without distinct raised glands; corolla red, pink, green or orange, petals five, 5-6.5 mm long, imbricate (overlapping), free, hairy on the surfaces; stamens numerous (more than twice as many as petals), 13-21 mm long, smooth, hairy; anthers 1.2-1.3 mm long, without an appendage. Flowers in January, July, August, September, October, November and December. Occurs in the South-West Botanical Province, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Esperance IBRA region(s).

C. Hollister and K.R. Thiele, 14 November 2023

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee.
IBRA Subregions
Eastern Mallee, Fitzgerald, Katanning, Merredin, Northern Jarrah Forest, Recherche, Southern Jarrah Forest, Western Mallee.
IMCRA Regions
Leeuwin-Naturaliste, WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Augusta Margaret River, Beverley, Cranbrook, Dardanup, Esperance, Jerramungup, Quairading, Ravensthorpe, Tammin.