Stenanthemum tridentatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to upright shrub with sparsely hairy young stems, egg-shaped to fan-shaped leaves, and creamy white or creamy-yellow flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to three.
Stenanthemum tridentatum is a prostrate to upright, intricately-branched shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 35 cm (14 in), its young stems sparsely covered with star-shaped hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, to fan-shaped, 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, with stipules 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long and fused at the base. The flowers are creamy white or creamy-yellow and arranged singly, in pairs or three, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) wide, the floral tube about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide. The sepals are 0.9–1.1 mm (0.035–0.043 in) long, and the petals 0.5–0.6 mm (0.020–0.024 in) long. Flowering occurs in August, and the fruit is a more or less glabrous schizocarp 1.8–2.2 mm (0.071–0.087 in) long.[2][3]
This species was first formally described in 1845 by Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel who gave it the name Cryptandra tridentata in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.[4][5] In 1858, Siegfried Reissek transferred it to Stenanthemum as Stenanthemum tridentatus in the journal Linnaea.[6]
Stenanthemum tridentatum grows in woodland and shrubland between Gunyidi and Tambellup in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of southwestern Western Australia.[2][3]
This species is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]
Stenanthemum tridentatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to upright shrub with sparsely hairy young stems, egg-shaped to fan-shaped leaves, and creamy white or creamy-yellow flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to three.