Thysanotus isantherus

Thysanotus isantherus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Lomandroideae
Genus:	Thysanotus
Species:	T. isantherus
Binomial name
Thysanotus isantherus R.Br. [1]

Thysanotus isantherus is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted, slender perennial herb, with a threadlike leaves, and umbels of one or two purple flowers with lance shaped sepals, elliptic, fringed petals and six stamens.

Description

Thysanotus isantherus is a tufted, slender, perennial herb with elliptical tubers about 8 mm (0.31 in) long 4 mm (0.16 in) wide 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) from the small rootstock. About six threadlike leaves 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) long are produced each year. One or two flowers are borne in up to five umbels on pedicels 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. The flowers are purple, the perianth segments about 7 mm (0.28 in) long. The sepals are lance-shaped, about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide and the petals are broadly elliptic, about 5 mm (0.20 in) wide with a fringe 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long. There are six stamens, the anthers 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long and the style is about 3 mm (0.12 in) long. Flowering occurs in November and December and the seeds are spherical, about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in diameter with a pale straw-coloured aril. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Thysanotus isantherus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae . ^{[4] [5]} The specific epithet (isantherus) means 'equal anthers'. ^[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Thysanotus grows in moss swards on granite hills in the Jarrah Forest and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

Thysanotus isantherus is listed as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, ^[3] meaning that is rare or near threatened. ^[7]

References

1. "Thysanotus isantherus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
2. Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus isantherus". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
3. "Thysanotus isantherus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Thysanotus isantherus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
5. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 283. Retrieved 18 November 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. 232. ISBN   9780645629538.
7. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 18 November 2025.