Hibbertia persquamata

Hibbertia persquamata is a spreading to prostrate shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 20 cm (7.9 in) with flattened branches up to 40 cm (16 in) long and foliage covered with shield-like scales. The leaves are narrow elliptic, 30–55 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) wide on a petiole up to 2.2 mm (0.087 in) long. The flowers are usually arranged singly in leaf axils on the ends of short side shoots on a stiff, thread-like peduncle 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) long, with oblong bracts 3.2–4.9 mm (0.13–0.19 in) long. The five sepals are joined at the base, the outer sepal lobes 6.5–7.5 mm (0.26–0.30 in) long and the inner lobes 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) long. The five petals are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, yellow, 6.8–9.2 mm (0.27–0.36 in) long and there are 20 to 26 stamens of different lengths arranged around three scaly carpels, each carpel two ovules.[2]

This hibbertia was first formally described in 2010 by Hellmut R. Toelken, and given the name Hibbertia complanata in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens from specimens collected in 1992 on Augustus Island.[2][3] Later in 2010, in a subsequent edition of the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Toelken changed the name to Hibbertia persquamata because the name H. complanata was already in use for a different taxon (H. complanata (R.Br. ex DC.) J.W.Horn).[4] The specific epithet (persquamata) means "densely covered with scales".[5]

Toelken described two subspecies of H. complanata, later changed to subspecies of H. persquamata, and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

• Hibbertia persquamata subsp. ampliata (Toelken) Toelken[6] has scales 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) wide on the upper leaf surface and has been observed flowering in January and June;[2]
• Hibbertia persquamata Toelken subsp. persquamata[7] has smaller leaf scales than subspecies ampliata and has been observed flowering in May and June.[2]

Subspecies ampliata grows in grassy eucalypt woodland on the lower Prince Regent River[2][8] and subspecies persquamata is only known from Augustus Island where it grows in grassy Acacia woodland.[2][9]

Both subspecies of Hibbertia persquamata are classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[8][9]

• List of Hibbertia species