Citation: Loth., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 71:217 (1947).

Synonymy: Wahlenbergia gracilis, Wahlenbergia quadrifida

Common name: Annual bluebell.

Description:
Annual, single- or few-stemmed herbs, typically hirsute; stems 1.5-35 cm long, often unbranched below the inflorescence; leaves opposite, becoming alternate up the stem, sometimes alternate throughout, 1-40 mm long, 0.2-11 mm wide, obovate or broadly elliptical, becoming lanceolate up the stem, margins flat or sometimes undulate.

Inflorescence a terminal cyme; receptacle 0.5-3 mm long, globular or ellipsoidal; sepals 5, sometimes 3 or 4, 0.5-4 mm long, narrowly oblong, obtuse; corolla blue or sometimes pink or white, campanulate; tube 0.5-4 mm long, cylindrical; lobes 5, sometimes 3 or 4, 0.5-5 mm long, less than twice as long as the tube, broadly elliptical; stamens 5, sometimes 3 or 4; filaments c. 1 mm long, triangular or rhombic, with or without protuberant shoulders; anthers c. 1 mm long; ovary 3-celled or sometimes 2-celled; style 0.5-5.5 mm long, 3-fid or sometimes 2-fid, contracted about halfway down, with 1 gland below each stigmatic cleft or glands absent.

Capsule 1-7 mm long, globular or ellipsoidal.

	Habit.
Image source: fig. 626a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

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

Published illustration: Lothian (1947) Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 71:218, fig. 2; Grieve & Blackall (1975) How to know Western Australian wildflowers 4:668.

Distribution:  A common species found in open sites in a variety of vegetation types. S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Conservation status: native Flowering time: July — Feb.

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

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available