About Cratystylis conocephala (F.Muell.) S.Moore
Cratystylis conocephala is an upright silver to blue-grey shrub that grows 0.7–1.8 m (2.3–5.9 ft) high. It has densely arranged, erect woody stems and forms a gnarled trunk. Its bark is fibrous, and younger stems are densely covered in short, matted, wooly hairs. Leaves are wedge-shaped to oval, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long, with a prominent mid-vein, and are grey and wooly on both surfaces. Its stalkless flowerheads measure 12–15 mm long and 3–8 mm in diameter. The obtuse involucral bracts are 3–7 mm long, green, and sparsely hairy. Each flowerhead holds 4–6 florets, with white corollas that are 10–12 mm long. Flowering occurs from September to December. Its fruit is an achene: abortive, underdeveloped achenes are 3–4 mm long, while fertile achenes grow to 6–7 mm long. This species grows on calcareous red soils and sandy soils, in mallee, coastal scrub, and woodland vegetation communities. It thrives in ecosystems that have not been burned for a long time. It is distributed across Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Victoria, occurring within the IBRA (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia) regions of Coolgardie, Hampton, Victorian Mallee, Mallee, and Nullarbor. It is very rare in the Southern Far Western Plains of New South Wales and the Belah Woodlands of North West Victoria.
