Thomasia brachystachys Turcz.

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 35-80 mm long, 25-65 mm wide, not lobed or irregularly lobed, complexly (twice-)lobed; margins crenate; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 7-15 mm long. Perianth of two whorls but the corolla reduced to small scales or tiny lobes at the base of the ovary. Pedicel present, 3-5 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, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx pink, 5.2 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs present, one. Corolla 1-1.7 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens five, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 0.6 mm long; anthers 1.2 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs absent, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absent; style 1, with a lobed or capitate stigma, 2-2.3 mm long, with one style branches or lobes, hairy for most of length, wing absent. Flowering time September, October or November. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Mallee and Esperance. Conservation Code Priority Three (P3).