Abutilon sp. Pilbara (W.R. Barker 2025)

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 15-75 mm long, 10-30 mm wide, not lobed; margins crenate; hairy, with absent, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves). Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 5-7 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent. Calyx green, 4-4.5 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 yellow, 4-5 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 1.8-3 mm long; anthers 0.1-0.2 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs and scales absent (ovary quite glabrous); style 1, 2-5.5 mm long, with numerous style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, 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 distinctly flat-topped; prickles absent (except perhaps a terminal awn); terminal awns or spines absent; calyx persistent to mature fruit, not accrescent; carpels 12-14; seeds per loculus 2-4. Flowering time April, May or August. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Pilbara and Gascoyne.