Thomasia angustifolia

Thomasia angustifolia, commonly known as narrow-leaved thomasia,[2] is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The flowers are pinkish-purple, bell-shaped and hang in pendents from the leaf axils.

Narrow-leaved thomasia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Thomasia
Species:
T. angustifolia
Binomial name
Thomasia angustifolia
Foliage

Description

Thomasia angustifolia is a small shrub that grows to about 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in) high and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wide. The dark green leaves are 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) wide. The leaf edge is smooth and the leaf surface covered in star shaped hairs. The stipule a small appendage at the base of the leaf, only present on young leaves, is 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and quickly shed. The flower petals are two small lobes near the ovary. The pink or purple calyx are 3.5–7 mm (0.14–0.28 in) long, joined about half way and covered in star-shaped hairs. The smaller calyx below these are 5.5–8 mm (0.22–0.31 in) long, covered in star-shaped hairs but not fused. The pedicel is 4–6.5 mm (0.16–0.26 in) long and covered in star-shaped hairs. The corolla is smooth and 0.7–2 mm (0.028–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from late autumn to late spring.

Taxonomy and naming

Thomasia angustifolia was first formally described by botanist Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in 1845 who published the description in Plantae Preissianae.[3][4] The specific epithet (angustifolia) is from the Latin angustus meaning "narrow"[5]:90 and folium meaning "leaf".[5]:340

Distribution and habitat

Narrow-leaved tomasia is found growing in loam, sand plains and occasionally damp locations near creeks from Albany and west to Esperance.[2]

References
  1. Steudel, Ernst. "Thomasia angustifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  2. "Thomasia angustifolia". FloraBase W.A. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  3. "Thomasia angustifolia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. "Thomasia angustifolia". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. Brown, Roland W. (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington D.C: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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