Citation: P.J. Smith, sp. nov.

Synonymy: W. sp. A. Carolin in Jessop, Fl. Cenl. Aust. 350 (1981). , Wahlenbergia gracilis

Common name: None

Description:
Perennial tufted herbs with a fleshy rootstock; glabrous throughout or the lower parts sparsely hirsute; stems 12-75 cm long, branching below the inflorescence; leaves alternate, 5-50 mm long, 1-6 mm wide, obovate or oblanceolate, becoming linear up the stem, margins flat or undulate.

Inflorescence a terminal cyme; receptacle 1.5-2.5 mm long, obconical or hemispherical; sepals 5, 1.5-4 mm long, narrowly triangular, acute; corolla blue, campanulate; tube 2-3 mm long, funnel-shaped; lobes 5, 5-8 mm long, c. 3 times as long as the tube, elliptical; stamens 5; filaments c. 1.5 mm long, rhombic with protuberant shoulders; anthers c. 3 mm long; ovary 3-celled; style 4-6 mm long, 3-fid, contracted about halfway down, with 2-4 glands below each stigmatic cleft and the uppermost sometimes elongated.

Capsule 2.5-5 mm long, obconical or hemispherical.

	Flower and fruit.
Image source: fig. 627a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Distribution:  An uncommon species mainly recorded from inland sand dune swales. S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, MU.   N.S.W. Conservation status: native Flowering time: throughout the year.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Holotype: Smithville-Hawker Gate, R.C. Carolin W91, 6.vi.1956 (NSW). Herbae caespitosae perennes caudice succulento, omnes glabrae vel vix hirsutae in pattibus infernis; caules 12-75 cm longi, ramosi infra inflorescentiam; folia alterna, 5-50 mm longa, 1-6 mm lata, obovata vel oblanceolata, lineariascentia secus caulis, marginthus plants vel undulatis, inflorescentia cyma terminalis; receptaculum 1.5-2.5 mm longum, obconicum vel hemisphaericum; sepala 5, 1.5-4 mm longa, anguste triangularia, acura; corolla caerulea, campanulata, tubo 2-3 mm 1ongo, infundibuliforme, lobis 5, 5-8 mm longis, tubo circiter 3plo longioribus, ellipticis; stamina 5, flits c. 1.5 mm longis, rhombeis, humeris protuberantibus, antheris c. 3 mm longis; ovarium 3-loculatum, stylo 4-6 mm Iongo, 3-fido, contracto ad circiter medium, glandibus 2-4 infra fissuram stigmaticam et summis interdum elongatis; capsula 2.5-5 mm longa, obconica vel hemisphaerica. The epithet refers to its occurrence in the arid zone.

Author: Not yet available