New species of Restionaceae 
from Western Australia 
K.A. Meney, J.S. Pate, K.W. Dixon 
649 
Abstract 
Meney, K.A}, Pate, J.S.^, and Dixon, K.W.’ OKings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, Western 
Australia 6005; ^Botany Department, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 
6907) 1996. New species of Restionaceae from Western Australia. Telopea 6(4): 649-666. Nine new 
taxa of Restionaceae from south-western Australia are described for the first time. The paper 
outlines diagnostic characteristics, ecological features and conservation status of each of the 
following species: Desmocladus glomeratus K.W. Dixon & K.A. Meney, Harperia ferruginipes 
K.A. Meney & J.S. Pate, Hypolaena robusta K.A. Meney & J.S. Pate, Lepidobolus basiflorus 
J.S. Pate & K.A. Meney, Lepidobolus spiralis K.A. Meney & K.W. Dixon, Leptocarpus crassipes 
J. S. Pate & K.A. Meney, Loxocarya albipes J.S. Pate & K.A. Meney, Loxocarya magna 
K. A. Meney & K.W. Dixon, Onychosepalum microcarpum K.A. Meney & J.S. Pate. Illustrations 
accompany each description. 
Introduction 
This paper describes nine new taxa of the predominantly Southern Hemisphere family, 
Restionaceae: Desmocladus glomeratus, Harperia ferruginipes, Hypolaena robusta, Lepndobolus 
basiflorus, Lepidobolus spiralis, Leptocarpus crassipes, Loxocarya albipes, Loxocarya magna, 
Onychosepalum microcarpum. Formal descriptions and illustrations of each taxon are 
provided alongside information on distribution, ecological preferences and conservation 
status. The genus Desmocladus Nees is being revised by B.G. Briggs and L.A.S. Johnson 
for the majority of the species that have until now been known as Loxocarya. 
Together with the taxonomic revisions of the family near completion by B.G. Briggs 
and L.A.S. Johnson for the Flora of Australia, this paper contributes to a now 
comprehensive study of the phytogeography, taxonomy and biology of the Australian 
Restionaceae. In the past 12 years, the family in Australia has gone from 115 known 
species and 20 genera (Johnson and Briggs 1983) to 147 species and possibly 27 
genera (Briggs and Johnson pers. comm.). Significant rediscoveries in this period 
included Restio abortivus Nees and Restio chaunocoleus F. Muell. which had eluded 
botanists since their type collections in the mid 19th century. 
Desmocladus glomeratus K.W. Dixon & K.A. Meney, sp. nov. 
Planta dioica, rhizomate brevi, repente, dense villoso, culmis erectis ramosis, 
pubescentibus, vaginis ovatis sub apice pilis fasciculatis, indutis instructis ramis et 
spiculis ad nodos plusminusve glomerose aggregatis. 
Type: South-western Western Australia, Northampton (28°21’S 114°38'E), Meney & 
Dixon KM 909 (female plant), 10 August 1990 (holotype KPBG; isotype PERTH). 
Growing in shallow sandy soils over laterite. 
Habit: Plants dioecious, fruticose, densely tufted, glomerose, approximately 40 cm 
tall, 20-30 cm in diameter. Rhizome compact, densely villous with ferruginous to 
pale hairs, 1.8-2.1 mm in diameter; scale leaves straw-coloured, broadly lanceolate, 
overlapping, 0.8 mm long. Culms terete, branched, pubescent and finely scabrous. 
