Thomasia petalocalyx

Thomasia petalocalyx, commonly known as paper flower,[2] is endemic to southern and western parts of Australia. The flowers are bell-like, a delicate pink with 5 papery segments and hang low to the ground.

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

Description

Thomasia petalocalyx is a short shrub, 0.25 - 1.2m high that grows in coastal and drier, sandy regions in southern Australia. Leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 10-40mm long and 4-11mm wide. Stipules are leaf-like, 8-12mm long and 4-8mm wide. Flowers have a single whorl of 5 . Calyx has 5 segments, 7-8mm long and 3.5-4.5mm wide with have a papery texture, hence the specific common name. Petals are red and reduced in size, less than 1mm long. Anthers are a red-brown colour approximately 2mm long. Flowers from September to March.

Distribution and habitat

The paper flower is found in coastal and drier heathy areas throughout Southern Australia from Albany in Western Australia to Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, with an isolated population in Wilson Promontory.

Taxonomy

Thomasia petalocalyx was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants.[3][4]

References
  1. von Mueller, Ferdinand. "Thomasia petalocalyx". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  2. von Mueller, Ferdinand. "Thomasia petalocalyx". FloraBase. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. "Thomasia petalocalyx". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  4. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1855). Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants. Melbourne: Goodhugh & Tembath. p. 3.
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