Styphelia erubescens



Styphelia erubescens is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with variably-shaped leaves with a small, sharp point on the tip, and white, pink or red, tube-shaped flowers.

Description
Styphelia erubescens is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.1–1 m and often has spreading branches. Its leaves are sessile, 6–12 mm long, linear, oblong or lance-shaped, sometimes egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, but with a small, sharp point on the tip. The flowers are usually borne singly or pairs in leaf axils on a short peduncle with tiny bracts, and broad bracteoles less than half as long as the sepals. The sepals are about 3 mm long, the petals white, pink or red, nearly 8 mm long and joined at the base, forming a tube much longer than the sepals. Flowering occurs from March to December.

Taxonomy
Styphelia erubescens was first described in 1867 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. The specific epithet (erubescens) means "reddening", referring to the colour of the flowers.

Distribution and habitat
This styphelia occurs in a variety of soils in near-coastal sites, in wetland, and on hills, ridges and breakaways in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions of southern Western Australia.

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