Lysiosepalum involucratum

Lysiosepalum involucratum is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is dense, compact or spreading shrub with its young branches covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs, and has narrowly egg-shaped leaves and purple flowers usually in groups of 2 to 6.

Description
Lysiosepalum involucratum is a dense, compact or spreading shrub that typically grows to 0.3–1.5 m high and wide, its young branches covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are narrowly egg-shaped, 8–15 mm long and 1–2 mm wide on a petiole 0.5–1.0 mm long, sometimes with stipules 0.6–1.3 mm long and 0.5–1.3 mm wide at the base. The flowers are purple, usually borne in groups of 2 to 6 on a peduncle 10–20 mm long with spoon-shaped bracts 2–7 mm long at the base, each flower on a pedicel 4.0–7.5 mm long with linear to egg-shaped bracts 2–6 mm long and hairy bracteoles 7–9 mm wide at the base of the sepals. The six sepal lobes are narrowly egg-shaped, 6.5–10 mm long and 2.5–5.0 mm wide, and there are usually tiny, dark red petals. Flowering occurs from August to November and the fruit is about 5 mm long and 4.5 mm wide.

Taxonomy
This species was first formally described in 1852 by Nikolai Turczaninow who gave it the name Thomasia involucrata in the Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou from specimens collected by James Drummond. The species was transferred to the genus Lysiosepalum in 1917 by English botanist George Claridge Druce. The specific epithet (involucratum) means "having bracts surrounding the base of the flowers".

Distribution and habitat
This species of lysiosepalum usually grows in sandy and gravelly soils in the heath and woodland between Chiddarcooping, the Pallinup River and Gnowangerup in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions in the south-west of Western Australia.

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

Cultivation
This species prefers a sunny or partially shaded position in well-drained soil. Established plants tolerate dry periods The most common method of propagation is from cuttings of semi-mature new growth. Although plants may be propagated from seed, it is difficult to obtain.