Family: Malvaceae
Thomasia petalocalyx
Citation:
F. Muell., Trans. Phil. Soc. Vic. 1:35 (1855).
Synonymy: Thomasia macrocalyx Common name: Paper-flower.
Description:
Shrubs to 1 m high but usually much less, hairs on the branches not very dense; leaves soft, oblong, obtuse at both ends or subcordate at the base, entire or sinuate through the irregular recurving of the margins, midrib impressed above, secondary veins impressed or inconspicuous, fairly densely stellate-tomentose to glabrescent above, stellate hairs confined mainly to the veins below, 2-4 cm long, 5-10 mm broad; petioles 2-8 mm long; stipules leaf-like, sessile, oblong-lanceolate, oblique at the base, to half as long as the leaf blade.
Racemes lax, to 5-flowered on slender peduncles; flowers drooping; epicalyx segments becoming reflexed, hairy, 4-8 mm long; calyx mauve, 5-10 mm long; petals to 1.5 mm long and gland-like or 0, dark; anthers dark, linear; style slender, glabrous; ovary tomentose.
Capsule ovoid, enclosed in the calyx, 7-9 mm long, with 1-4 blackish seeds in each of the 3 cells.
| Thomasia petalocalyx twig, flower, stamens, 2 views of the fruit and seed.
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Image source: fig 447 in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cochrane et al. (1968) Flowers and plants of Victoria, fig. 299.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; Vic.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: mainly Aug. — Nov., but less often in most months.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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