Stenanthemum nanum

Stenanthemum nanum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with hairy young stems, broadly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and densely silvery-hairy heads of white or cream-coloured flowers.

Description
Stenanthemum nanum is a spreading, more or less prostrate shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 10 cm, its young stems covered with straight and star-shaped hairs. Its leaves are broadly egg-shaped to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 5–8 mm long and 3–5 mm wide on a hairy petiole 0.8–2 mm long, with stipules joined together for their lower one-third. There are two teeth on each side of the end of the leaf and the lower surface is densely covered with straight and star-shaped hairs. The flowers are white or cream-coloured and arranged in clusters of 5 to 15, 4–6 mm wide, surrounded by broadly egg-shaped bracts 2–3 mm long. The floral tube is 1.6–1.8 mm long and densely hairy, the sepals about 1 mm long and the petals 0.7–0.8 mm long. Flowering occurs in October and November, and the fruit is a densely hairy schizocarp 2.2–2.5 mm long.

Taxonomy and naming
Stenanthemum nanum was first formally described in 1995 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by Alex George, 50 km south-east of Perth in 1965. The specific epithet (nanum) means "dwarf", referring to the size of the plant.

Distribution and habitat
This species grows in woodland and forest from east of Armadale to near Boddingtonin the Jarrah Forest bioregion of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status
Stenanthemum nanum is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions