Cryptandra micrantha

Cryptandra micrantha is a flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a prostrate or upright shrub with spiny branchlets, narrowly oblong to elliptic leaves and dense clusters of white or cream-coloured, tube-shaped flowers.

Description
Cryptandra micrantha is a rounded, prostrate or erect, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 30–60 cm and has spiny branchlets. The leaves are narrowly oblong to elliptic, 1.3–2.3 mm long and 0.0–0.7 mm wide, on a glabrous petiole 0.3–0.4 mm long with stipules 0.6–1.3 mm long at the base. The edges of the leaves are turned down or rolled under, sometimes concealing the lower surface. The flowers are borne in dense, white or cream-coloured clusters 1.5–3 mm wide, surrounded by 4 to 6 egg-shaped bracts. The floral tube is 0.8–1.0 mm long and glabrous, the sepals 0.6–0.7 mm long and glabrous, and the petals are 0.4–0.5 mm long. Flowering occurs from April to August.

Taxonomy and naming
Cryptandra micrantha was first formally described in 2007 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Mount Gibson in 1994. The specific epithet (micrantha ) means "small flower".

Distribution
This cryptandra grows in stony places, often on hills and occurs between Canna, Wongan Hills, Boorabbin and Mount Magnet in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

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