Thomasia glabripetala
| Thomasia glabripetala | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Thomasia |
| Species: | T. glabripetala
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thomasia glabripetala | |
Thomasia glabripetala is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open shrub with densely hairy branchlets, sparsely hairy, wrinkled, elliptic or oblong leaves, and racemes of purplish-pink flowers arranged in leaf axils.
Description[edit]
Thomasia glabripetala is an open shrub that typically grows up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) high, 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide and has its branchlets densely covered with brownish, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are elliptic or oblong, 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) long and 7–18 mm (0.28–0.71 in) wide, on a petiole 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long with leaf-like, kidney-shaped or lobed stipules 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) long at the base. The leaves are slightly wrinkled, both surfaces covered with star-shaped hairs, pale on the upper surface and rusty brown on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged in racemes of 4 to 7 in leaf axils on a hairy peduncle, each flower on a pedicel 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) long, with 3 hairy, elliptic bracteoles 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) long at the base. The sepals are purplish-pink, 9–17 mm (0.35–0.67 in) long with 5 lobes 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long. Flowering occurs in September and October and the fruit is a capsule about 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
Thomasia glabripetala was first formally described in 1993 by Susan Paust in the journal Nuytsia, from specimens she collected near York in 1991.[2][5] The specific epithet (glabripetala) means "smooth petals", referring to features that distinguish this species from T. montana.[2]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
This thomasia grows in the open shrub layer of remnant woodland east of York in the Avon Wheatbelt bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[3][4]
Conservation status[edit]
Thomasia glabripetala is listed as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[4] meaning that it is in danger of extinction.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "Thomasia glabripetala". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Patrick, Susan J. (1993). "Thomasia glabripetala (Sterculiaceae), a new species from south-west Western Australia". Nuytsia. 9 (1): 119–122. doi:10.58828/nuy00199. S2CID 257674811. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 26–27. ISBN 9780646839301.
- ^ a b c "Thomasia glabripetala". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Thomasia glabripetala". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 15 January 2023.