Commersonia gilva

Commersonia gilva is an erect shrub that typically grows to 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) high and wide, its new growth covered with golden, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are elliptic to oblong or egg-shaped, the narrower end towards the base, 2–7 mm (0.079–0.276 in) long and 1.0–2.5 mm (0.039–0.098 in) wide on a petiole up to 2 mm (0.079 in) long with egg-shaped stipules about 3 mm (0.12 in) long at the base. The edges of the leaves have irregular serrations, the upper surface is wrinkled and the lower surface is densely covered with golden, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are arranged in groups of 2 to 4 on a peduncle up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long with an egg-shaped bract 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long at the base. The flowers are 5 mm (0.20 in) wide with five yellow, petal-like sepals, five yellow petals with a narrow, white ligule, and a single, yellow staminode between each pair of stamens. Flowering occurs from May to November and the fruit is a woody, elliptic capsule 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter.[2]

Commersonia gilva was first formally described in 2011 by Carolyn F. Wilkins and the description was published in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected north of West River in 2003.[3] The specific epithet (gilva) means "dull yellow", referring to the flower colour and the hairs on the foliage.[2][4]

Golden commersonia grows in low mallee and near creeks and drainage lines near Ravensthorpe, Ongerup and Fitzgerald River National Park in the Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][5]

Commersonia gilva is listed as "not threatened", by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[5]