Thysanotus asper

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Thysanotus asper
Thysanotus asper.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Lomandroideae
Genus: Thysanotus
Species:
T. asper
Binomial name
Thysanotus asper
Synonyms [1]

Chlamysporum asperum(Lindl.) Kuntze

Habit and densely hairy leaves Thysanotus asper habit.jpg
Habit and densely hairy leaves

Thysanotus asper, commonly known as hairy fringe lily, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a clumping perennial herb with a small rootstock, stiff linear leaves, and umbels of purple flowers with elliptic, fringed petals, linear sepals, six stamens and a curved style.

Contents

Description

Thysanotus asper is a clumping perennial herb with a small rootstock and fibrous roots and 10 to 50 stiff, striated perennial leaves 100–210 mm (3.9–8.3 in) long about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide with hairs on the outer surface. The flowers are borne in umbels of four or five flowers on up to five flowering stems 30–41 cm (12–16 in) long, each flower on a pedicel about 20 mm (0.79 in) long. The flowers are purple, with perianth segments about 20 mm (0.79 in) long, the sepals linear, 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide, the petals elliptic, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide with a fringe about 5 mm (0.20 in) long. There are six stamens and the style is curved, about 13 mm (0.51 in) long. Flowering occurs from October to December or January and the seed is more or less spherical, about 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long in diameter with an almost black aril. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Thysanotus asper was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley in his A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony . [4] [5] The specific epithet (asper) means 'rough to the touch'. [6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Thysanotus grows in yellow or calcareous sand in a wide range of habitats, including sandplain and jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ) - marri ( E. calophylla ) forest in the Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [3] [2]

Conservation status

Thysanotus asper is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Thysanotus asper". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Thysanotus asper". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus asper". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Thysanotus asper". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Lindley, John (1840). A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. London: James Ridgway. p. lviii. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  6. ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 138. ISBN   9780645629538.
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