| Wilsonia humilis | |
|---|---|
| | |
| | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Wilsonia |
| Species: | W. humilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Wilsonia humilis | |
| Synonyms | |
Frankenia cymbifoliaHook. | |
Wilsonia humilis, the silky wilsonia, is a species of perennial subshrub in the family Convolvulaceae. The species is endemic to Australia, occurring in coastal saltmarshes and also occasionally in inland saline areas, often colonising bare ground. [2] [3]
Silky wilsonia is a low-growing mat forming species, growing to 10 cm tall. The plant is covered with short, white hairs imparting a silvery appearance. The small, crowded leaves are concave and overlapping and are 1.5 to 4 mm long and 2 to 3 mm long. [3] White flowers appear between September and December in the species' native range. [4] These are followed by capsular fruits which are 3 mm long. [3]
The species was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae . [1]
The species is native to Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. [5] It has been recorded in New South Wales, but the record is regarded as doubtful. [5] In Tasmania, the species is rare, occurring near Pitwater, Dunalley and Cape Portland. [6]