Thryptomene orbiculata

Thryptomene orbiculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with broadly egg-shaped to more or less round leaves, and flowers with five pinkish petals and usually ten stamens.

Description
Thryptomene orbiculata is a shrub that typically grows to 0.5–1.5 m high and wide. Its leaves are broadly egg-shaped to more or less round, 2–3.5 mm long and 2.3–3.3 mm wide on a petiole 0.4–0.7 mm long and more or less pressed against the stem. The flowers are arranged raceme-like in five to fifteen pairs along the branches on peduncles 1–2.5 mm long with bracteoles 1.5–2.5 mm long that remain until the fruit falls. The flowers are 5–8 mm wide with petal-like sepals 2.0–2.5 mm long. The petals are pink to pinkish-mauve, 2.2–2.4 mm long and there are usually ten stamens. Flowering occurs from July to October.

Taxonomy
Thryptomene orbiculata was first formally described in 2014 by Barbara Lynette Rye and Malcolm Eric Trudgen in the journal Nuytsia from specimens Trudgen collected north-east of Geraldton in 2003. The specific epithet (orbiculata) means "circular", referring to the shape of the leaves.

Distribution and habitat
This thryptomene usually grows in sandy soil from near East Yuna to near Mingenew in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic regions of Western Australia.

Conservation status
Thryptomene orbiculata is classified as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.