Conostylis micrantha

Conostylis micrantha, commonly known as small-flowered conostylis, 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 leaves that are round in cross-section and have bristles or hairs on the lower edges, and pale yellowish cream, tubular flowers.

Description
Conostylis micrantha is a rhizomatous, perennial, grass-like plant or herb forming tufts up to 30 cm in diameter. It has leaves that are round in cross-section, 130–240 mm long, 0.7–1.2 mm in diameter and glabrous, except for the lower edges of the leaves. The flowers are borne in a forked, flattened head with many flowers on a flowering stem 50–130 mm tall with a hairy bract 3–8 mm long at the base. The perianth is 5.0–7.5 mm long, finely hairy and pale yellowish-cream aging to red, with lobes 2.5–4.5 mm long, the anthers 1.0–1.7 mm long and the style 3–4 mm long. Flowering occurs in July and August.

Taxonomy and naming
Conostylis micrantha was first formally described in 1987 by Stephen Hopper in the Flora of Australia, from specimens he collected near Mount Horner in 1982. The specific epithet (micrantha) means "small-flowered".

Distribution and habitat
This conostylis grows heath on sandplains north of the Irwin River, in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status
Conostylis micrantha is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and as Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is in danger of extinction.