Babingtonia erecta

Babingtonia erecta is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with densely clustered, linear leaves and white or pale pink flowers in groups two to seven in leaf axils, each flower with 8 to 14 stamens.

Description
Babingtonia erecta is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.7–3 m. The leaves are densely clustered, linear, 2.5–6 mm long and 0.5–0.8 mm wide on a petiole 0.1–0.3 mm long. The flowers are arranged in groups of two to seven on a peduncle 0.6–3 mm long, each flower on a pedicel 1.3–3 mm long. The sepals are about 0.6–0.8 mm long and 1.3–2 mm wide and the petals are white or pale pink, 2.3–3.2 mm long. There are 8 to 14 stamens in each flower. The ovary has three locules and the style is 1.3–2 mm long. Flowering mainly occurs from October to January, and the fruit is a capsule 1.5–2.3 mm long and 2.5–3.5 mm wide.

Taxonomy
Babingtonia erecta was first formally described in 2015 by Barbara Rye and Malcolm Trudgen in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected west of Three Springs in 2003. The specific epithet (erecta) means "upright", referring to the form of the plant and distinguishing it from B. camphorosmae.

Distribution and habitat
This species is found from near Arrino and south-east to Gunyidi and south-west to the Gairdner Range, and grows on lateritic ridges or on hillsides, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status
Babingtonia erecta is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.