Meney, Pate & Dixon, New species of Restionaceae 
653 
Flowering: Autumn (April to May). Seed-shed: September to October. Seedlings: not 
seen in habitat. 
Affinities: Most similar to H. lateriflora W, Fitzg. in culm and spikelet morphology 
but immediately distinguishable by its densely hairy rhizomes and robust 
multibranched culms. This species is typical of the genus Harperia in gross 
morphology, spikelet characteristics and culm anatomy. 
Ecological features: Known from only one locality in open heathland on red sandy 
loam soil between Geraldton and Mullewa. Growing with Lepidoboliis basifloriis, 
L. chactocephalus F. Muell. ex Benth. and L. preissianus Nees. Rhizomes contain dense 
starch reserves, indicating that the plants probably survive fire. 
Conservation status: Probably highly restricted and known presently from only one 
small unreserved population with less than 200 plants. Further survey and gazetting 
of conservation priority status is urgently required. 
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ferrugo, ferruginis, rust and 
pes, a foot, referring to the densely tomentose rust coloured rhizomes. 
Hypolaena robusta K. A. Meney & J. S. Pate, sp. nov. 
Planta dioica, valida, rhizomatibus crassis repentibus, culmis distantibus, parce ramosis, 
ramis tricompressis, vaginis elongatis ad apicem nitidis, caducis, spiculis terminalibus 
vel axillaribus in parte superiosi culmi, masculinis pendulis, foemininis erectis. 
Type: South-western Western Australia, S.W. Botanical Province near Badgingarra 
(30°24'S 115°33'E), Meney & Pate KM 9092, 6 September 1990, (holotype KPBG; isotype 
PERTH). Inconspicuous in deep white sands. 
Habit: Plants dioecious, tall with sparse culms on stout rhizomes. Rhizome creeping, 
with widely spaced culms 5-8 mm in diameter, cream-coloured with sparse white 
hairs under scale leaves; scale leaves clasping, triangular, shiny orange-brown with 
scarious margins, striate in upper outer portions, 1.5 cm long; cataphylls similar to 
scale leaves, but longer, 1.8-2.5 cm long, fragmenting with age. Cidms densely tomentose 
on lower internodes, sparingly branched, main culms terete, branches semi-flattened, 
blue-green, 50-70 cm long, 2.5-3.0 mm diameter; culm nodes more or less equidistant 
7-8 cm long; culm sheaths grey, scarious, 20-30 mm long, ribbed, especially near 
flared apex, lamina short, 2 mm long, deciduous. Male spikelets in short terminal or 
axillary clusters, pendulous on densely tomentose pedicels, up to 20 spikelets per 
culm, bronze, ovoid, 7-9 mm long; glumes rust-coloured narrow-lanceolate with 
scarious margins, up to 3 mm long, mucro 0.3 mm long. Male flowers sessile, more than 
20 per spikelet; tepals 6,1.5-2 mm long, broadly lanceolate; stamens 3. Female spikelets 
erect, shortly pedicillate, solitary or paired on upper portions of branchlets, less than 
5 per branchlet, linear, 10-12 mm long; glumes obovate, appressed, 8-10 mm long, 
mucro 1 mm long. Female flowers with tepals 6, 2-3 mm long, obovate; style with 
3 branches, fused at base, stigma purple. Fndt an arillate nut, 5 mm long. 
Flowering: September-October. Seed-shed: September-October. Seedlings: not observed. 
Affinities: Probably closest to H. exsulca R.Br. but readily distinguished by stout 
rhizomes, widely spaced culms, and sparse inflorescences. 
Ecological features: Infrequent inconspicuous species in dense heath on deep white 
sands of the northern sandplains in the Badgingarra region. Known from only a few 
small populations. Starch is present in rhizomes and plants resprout after fire. 
Conservation status: Probably very restricted and in need of further survey and 
assessment of requirements for conservation. 
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin robustiis, robust, referring 
to the stout rhizome and culms. 
