Thysanotus formosus

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Thysanotus formosus
Status DECF P1.svg
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
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. formosus
Binomial name
Thysanotus formosus

Thysanotus formosus is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb, with three or four terete leaves, large purple flowers, linear sepals, elliptic, fringed petals, six stamens and an erect style.

Contents

Description

Thysanotus formosus is a tufted perennial herb with somewhat fleshy horizontal roots. Its three or four leaves are produced annually, about 400 mm (16 in) long and glaucous, surrounded by old leaf bases. The flowers are borne in four or five more or less sessile umbels, each with two or three flowers. The flowers are purple, the outer tepals about 19 mm (0.75 in) long, the petals elliptical with a fringe about 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long. The sepals are linear, about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide and there are six stamens, the anthers slightly twisted and about 4 mm (0.16 in) long, the style is about 10 mm (0.39 in) long. The capsule is cylindrical, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide containing black seeds with a yellow aril This species is distinguished from others in the genus, by its large flowers, borne in sessile umbels. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

Thysanotus formosus was first formally described in 1960 by Norman Henry Brittan in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia from specimens he collected 26 mi (42 km) west of Nannup in 1953. [3] [5] The specific epithet (formosus) means 'beautiful', on account of form. [6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Thysanotus is only known from an area about 42 km (26 mi) south-west of Nannup where it grows in heavy clay soils that are often inundated in winter, in jarrah forest, in the Jarrah Forest bioregion of south-western Western Australia. [2] [4]

Conservation status

Thysanotus formosus is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, [4] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations that are potentially at risk. [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Thysanotus formosus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus formosus". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 Brittan, Norman Henry (1960). "New Western Australian species of Thysanotus R.Br. (Liliaceae)". Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. 43: 10. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Thysanotus formosus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ↑ "Thysanotus formosus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2 October 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. 205. ISBN   9780645629538.
  7. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
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