''Lasiopetalum cenobium'', is a species of flowering plant in the family

Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familiar ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to a restricted part of the south-west of Western Australia. It is only known from the type location, not having been collected since 1918.

Description

''Lasiopetalum cenobium'' has stems densely covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped, long and wide on a woolly-hairy petiole long, the edges turned downwards. The upper surface of the leaves sparsely covered with white, star-shaped hairs and the lower surface densely covered with white and rust-coloured, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are arranged in loose groups of three to five, long, the peduncles hairy and long, each flower on a

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

long with thread-like

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s about long at the base and three further thread-like bracts long near the base of the

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s. The sepals are pink with a dark red base, about long with five egg-shaped lobes about long, and there are no petals.

Taxonomy

''Lasiopetalum cenobium'' was first formally described in 2015 by

Kelly Anne Shepherd Kelly Anne Shepherd (born 1970) is an Australian botanist, who has published some 91 names. Career Shepherd earned a B.Sc. (Hon) in 1992 with a thesis entitled "Faecal Analysis of Mammalian Herbivores in the Perup Forest, Western Australia." ...

and Carolyn F. Wilkins in the journal ''

Nuytsia ''Nuytsia floribunda'' is a hemiparasitic tree found in Western Australia. The species is known locally as moodjar and, more recently, the Christmas tree or Western Australian Christmas tree. The display of intensely bright flowers during the ...

'' from specimens collected in

New Norcia New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

in 1918. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''cenobium'') means "monastery", referring to the monastic town of New Norcia where the only two known specimens were collected in 1918.

Distribution and habitat

This lasiopetalum is only known from two collections made in 1918 and recent searches made in the region have failed to located further specimens.

Conservation status

''Lasiopetalum cenobium'' is listed as " Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is the Western Australian government The Government of Western Australia, formally referred to as His Majesty's Government of Western Australia, is the Australian state de ...

, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q51046783 cenobium Malvales of Australia Flora of Western Australia Plants described in 2015