Micromyrtus prochytes

Micromyrtus prochytes is species of the flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end toward the base, and white or pink flowers 3.0–4.0 mm in diameter.

Description
Micromyrtus prochytes is an erect shrub that typically grows to 0.5–2 m high and at least 1 m wide and has erect leaves densely arranged on its smaller branchlets. Its leaves are narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 2.5–3.5 mm long and 0.6–1.0 mm wide on a petiole 0.4–0.6 mm long. The flowers are 3.0–4.0 mm in diameter, and arranged in between 2 and 10 upper leaf axils on a peduncle 1.0–3.3 mm long. The sepals are 0.1–0.35 mm long and 0.4–0.9 mm wide and the petals are white or pink, often pink at first and later white, 1.3–1.5 mm long. The anthers are 0.25–0.35 mm long and the style is 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Flowering occurs between May and September, with a peak from winter to spring, and the fruit is 2.4–3.0 mm long and about 1.0–1.3 mm wide, containing a seed 2.0–2.5 mm long.

Taxonomy
Micromyrtus prochytes was first formally described in 2010 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by John Stanley Beard near Paynes Find in 1973. This species was originally described in an unpublished manuscript by John Green as Micromyrtus racemosa var. prochytes, but raised to species status as Micromyrtus prochytes by Rye. The meaning of the specific epithet (prochytes) is uncertain, since it was not explained by Green.

Distribution and habitat
This species grows on granite outcrops and other rocky habitats between Woolgorong Station near Mullewa to Wurarga near Yalgoo in the Avon Wheatbelt, Murchison, and Yalgoo bioregions of inland Western Australia.

Conservation status
Micromyrtus mucronulata is lised as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.