Thomasia macrocarpa

Thomasia macrocarpa, commonly known as large-fruited thomasia,[2] is a shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia.

Thomasia macrocarpa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Thomasia
Species:
T. macrocarpa
Binomial name
Thomasia macrocarpa

Description

Thomasia macrocarpa is a small, spreading shrub growing to about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide. The stems are hairy, the grey-green leaves 30–120 mm (1.2–4.7 in) long and 15–70 mm (0.59–2.76 in) wide with finely toothed margins and star-shaped hairs. The leaves are heart to egg-shaped, velvety when young and become smooth as they age. The conspicuous pink to purple flowers are produced between August and November in the species' native range. Occasionally white flowers are seen. The flowers are about 10 mm (0.39 in) in diameter with a perianth consisting of two bracts and the pedicel 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in) long. The flower petals are small lobes and the surface is covered in star-shaped hairs. The flowers are followed by capsules containing black seeds which are shed from the plant when ripe.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thomasia macrocarpa was first formally described by Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher in 1839 based on a horticultural specimen and published the description in Novarum Stirpium Decades.[4][5] The specific epithet is derived from the ancient Greek words makros (μακρός) meaning "long" and karpos (καρπός) meaning "fruit".[6]

References
  1. "Thomasia macrocarpa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  2. "Thomasia macrocarpa". FloraBase W.A. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions W.A. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  3. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (2001). Australian Native Plants. Louise Eggerton-Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-876334-30-4.
  4. "Thomasia macrocarpa". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. "Thomasia macrocarpa". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  6. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.