Cryptandra recurva

Cryptandra recurva is a flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, spreading shrub with densely hairy young stems, narrowly oblong to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and clusters of white, cream-coloured or off-white, tube-shaped flowers.

Description
Cryptandra recurva is an erect, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–70 cm, and has its young stems densely covered with tiny, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are narrowly oblong to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 2.0–3.8 mm long and 0.5–0.8 mm wide, on a petiole 0.2–0.3 mm long with stipules 0.5–1 mm long at the base. The lower surface is usually mostly concealed and the tip of the leaf curves downwards. The flowers are white, cream-coloured or off-white, sometimes pink and arranged in clusters of 3 to 15, with about 5 broadly egg-shaped floral bracts 1.0–1.5 mm long. The floral tube is 1.2–1.5 mm long joined at the base for 0.5–0.8 mm. The sepals are 0.8–1.3 mm long, the style 0.5–0.8 mm long. The bracts, floral tube and sepals are covered with tiny, star-shaped hairs and simple hairs. Flowering occurs from June to November, and the fruit is a schizocarp 2.0–2.5 mm long and densely hairy.

Taxonomy and naming
Cryptandra recurva was first formally described in 1995 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected on the Salmon Gums - Lake King road in 1974. The specific epithet (recurva ) means "curved backwards", referring to the tips of the leaves.

Distribution and habitat
This cryptandra grows in sandy soil between Southern Cross, Coolgardie, the Fitzgerald River National Park and Cocklebiddy in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of Western Australia.

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