Thysanotus fastigiatus

Thysanotus fastigiatus
Near Perth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Lomandroideae
Genus:	Thysanotus
Species:	T. fastigiatus
Binomial name
Thysanotus fastigiatus N.H.Brittan [1]

Thysanotus fastigiatus is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rhizomatous, perennial herb, with a few narrowly linear leaves, purple flowers arranged singly with narrowly lance-shaped sepals, elliptic, fringed petals, six stamens and an erect style.

Description

Thysanotus fastigiatus is a perennial herb with a more or less spherical rhizome and fibrous roots. Its few leaves are produced annually, 50–90 mm (2.0–3.5 in) long and wither early, with hairs about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers are borne singly on stems up to 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long, the side branches 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long, each flower on a pedicel about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The flowers are purple, the perianth segments about 8 mm (0.31 in) long with a fringe about 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long. The sepals are narrowly lance-shaped, about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. There are six stamens, the anthers slightly twisted and about 4 mm (0.16 in) long, and the style is erect, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. Flowering occurs in November and December. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Thysanotus fastigiatus was first formally described in 1981 by Norman Henry Brittan in Brunonia from specimens he collected about 21 km (13 mi) east-south-east of Perth in 1974. ^[4] The specific epithet (fastigiatus) means 'fastigiate'. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in limestone gravel towards the top of the Darling Range in low eucalypt-banksia woodland east of Perth, in the Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of south-western Western Australia. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

Thysanotus fastigiatus is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. ^[3]

References

1. "Thysanotus fastigiatus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
2. Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus fastigiatus". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
3. "Thysanotus fastigiatus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Thysanotus fastigiatus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
5. George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 179. ISBN   9780645629538.