Thomasia macrocalyx

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Thomasia macrocalyx
Thomasia macrocalyx.jpg
Near Pingelly
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Thomasia
Species:
T. macrocalyx
Binomial name
Thomasia macrocalyx

Thomasia macrocalyx is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with densely hairy new growth, egg-shaped leaves with a heart-shaped base and lobed or toothed edges, and groups of pale purple to mauve or white flowers.

Contents

Description

Thomasia macrocalyx is an erect, bushy shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.3–2.5 m (1 ft 0 in – 8 ft 2 in), its young growth densely covered with pale or brownish, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped with a heart-shaped base, 40–80 mm (1.6–3.1 in) long and 25–50 mm (0.98–1.97 in) wide on a petiole 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long. The edges of the leaves are toothed or lobed, both surfaces densely covered with star-shaped hairs, the upper surface becoming glabrous with age. The flowers are arranged in hairy racemes of 2 to 6, 50 mm (2.0 in) long with egg-shaped bracteoles 10 mm (0.39 in) long at the base, the flowers 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) in diameter. The sepals are joined at the base and covered with both simple and star-shaped hairs. Flowering occurs from May to December. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thomasia macrocalyx was first formally described in 1845 by Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae from specimens collected near Preston Beach. [4] [5] The specific epithet (macrocalyx) means "large calyx", referring to the sepals. [6]

Distribution and habitat

This thomasia grows on sandplains, hills and breakaways, often near creeks or on slopes, mainly near the Darling Range in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [2] [3]

Conservation status

Thomasia macrocalyx is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Thomasia cognata</i> Species of shrub

Thomasia cognata is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a compact, multi-stemmed shrub with wrinkled, narrowly oblong to elliptic leaves and pale pink flowers.

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Thomasia × formosa 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 erect, compact shrub with densely hairy branchlets, hairy, coarsely serrated, egg-shaped to elliptic or oblong leaves, and racemes of pink or purple flowers arranged in leaf axils.

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Cryptandra nutans is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 10–60 cm (3.9–23.6 in) and has many stems at ground level. Its leaves are up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long, and the flowers are white, pink or cream-coloured and crowded in spikes on the ends of branches. The sepals are joined at the base to form a broadly bell-shaped tube, less than 2 mm (0.079 in) long with spreading lobes. Flowering occurs in August and September. It was first formally described in 1845 by Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae from specimens collected in 1840. The specific epithet (nutans) means "nodding".

<i>Cryptandra pungens</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Commersonia rugosa</i> Species of plant

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References

  1. "Thomasia macrocalyx". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 34–35. ISBN   9780646839301.
  3. 1 2 3 "Thomasia macrocalyx". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. "Thomasia macrocalyx". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  5. von Steudel, Ernst G. (1845). Lehmann, Johann G.C.; Preiss, Ludwig (eds.). Plantae preissianae sive enumeratio plantarum quas in australasia occidentali et meridionali-occidentali. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. p. 230. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  6. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 246. ISBN   9780958034180.