Thysanotus acerosifolius

Thysanotus acerosifolius
Conservation status
Priority Two — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Lomandroideae
Genus:	Thysanotus
Species:	T. acerosifolius
Binomial name
Thysanotus acerosifolius N.H.Brittan [2]

Thysanotus acerosifolius is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted, perennial herb with yellowish tubers, glabrous, thread-like leaves and panicles of purple flowers, the outer tepals linear with membranous edges, the inner tepals egg-shaped and fringed, and six stamens, the ovary with two ovules per locule.

Description

Thysanotus acerosifolius is a tufted, perennial herb with a rootstock 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) in diameter enclosed by bracts and leaf bases of previous years' growth. The roots are fibrous expanded into yellowish tubers. Ten to fifteen glabrous, thread-like leaves 90–240 mm (3.5–9.4 in) are produced each season. The flowers are borne in panicles 150–300 mm (5.9–11.8 in) tall, usually only branching in the top 20 mm (0.79 in). Each umbel has 3 or 4 flowers, each on a pedicel 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long. The scape is erect, circular in cross section, and the flowers are purple, the outer tepals linear, 10 mm (0.39 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide and the inner tepals egg-shaped with a fringe 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide. There are six stamens and the ovary is sessile with three locules, each with two ovules. ^{[3] [4]}

This species resembles T. brevifolius but differs in its shorter, narrower leaves and accumulation of past season's leaf bases.

Taxonomy

Thysanotus acerosifolius was first formally described in 1972 by Norman Henry Brittan in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia from specimens he collected at Pallarup Rocks about 31 km (19 mi) north of Ravensthorpe. ^{[4] [5]} The specific epithet (acerosifolius) means 'needle-shaped leaves'. ^[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows between Lake Grace and Lake Pallarup on sandplains in sand, laterite, and clay-loam in the Avon Wheatbelt and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia. ^{[3] [1]}

Conservation status

Thysanotus acerosifolius is listed as "Priority Two" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, ^[1] meaning that it is poorly known and from one or a few locations. ^[7]

References

1. "Thysanotus acerosifolius". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
2. "Thysanotus acerosifolius". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
3. Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus acerosifolius". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
4. Brittan, Norman Henry (1972). "New Western Australian species of Thysanotus R.Br. (Liliaceae) - 2". Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. 54 (1): 76–77. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
5. "Thysanotus acerosifolius". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
6. George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 126. ISBN   9780958034180.
7. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 27 June 2025.