Conostylis misera



Conostylis misera, commonly known as grass conostylis, is a prostrate, rhizomatous, tufted perennial, grass-like plant or herb in the family Haemodoraceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has flat leaves and bright yellow flowers usually arranged singly on a short flowering stem.

Description
Conostylis misera is a prostrate, rhizomatous, proliferous perennial that typically grows to a height of 5–18 cm high. Its leaves are flat, 50–180 mm long and 2–6 mm wide and often remain attached to the plant, becoming blackened and twisted. The flowers are borne singly on a flowering stalk 4–20 cm long with 2 or 3 glabrous brown bracts. The perianth is bright yellow, 12–19 mm long with lobes 10.5–18 mm long. The anthers are 4.5–7.0 mm long and the style is 8–12 mm long. Flowering occurs in October and November.

Taxonomy and naming
Conostylis misera was first formally described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae. The specific epithet (misera) means "wretched".

Distribution and habitat
This species of conostylis grows in sandy loam in winter-west flats from Mount Barker and the Porongurups to the Stirling Range in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status
Conostylis misera is listed as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is in danger of extinction.