Decaschistia occidentalis Craven & Fryxell

Scientific Description

Herb or shrub, with glabrous stems. Leaves 30-100 mm long, 25-65 mm wide, not lobed; margins entire; hairy, with stellate hairs, with gland-tipped hairs absentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 24-30 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 7-15 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 5.5-6 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 15-20 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, Sessile glands absent, stellate hairs present, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla pink or purple, 40-55 mm long, hairs or scales present or glabrous, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 0.5-1 mm long; anthers 0.6-1.3 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs present, stellate hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent; style 1, with a lobed or capitate stigma, 18-28 mm long, with one style branches or lobes, hairy for most of length, wing absent. Fruits dehiscent (capsules and follicles), length-width ratio more or less as long as wide, hairs or scales present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, Sessile glands absent, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent; apex rounded; prickles absent (except perhaps a terminal awn); terminal awns or spines absent; calyx persistent to mature fruit, not accrescent; carpels 8-10; seeds per loculus 1. Flowering time April, May, June, October or November. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley.