Thomasia purpurea is a small, flowering shrub in the family Malvaceae that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has green oblong-shaped leaves and pinkish purple flowers.
| Thomasia purpurea | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Thomasia |
| Species: | T. purpurea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thomasia purpurea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editThomasia purpurea is an upright, slender shrub usually growing to between 0.3–1.2 m (1 ft 0 in – 3 ft 11 in) high, stems covered in star-shaped hairs. It has oblong to narrow-oval shaped leaves, 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long, 7 mm (0.28 in) wide, hairy especially on the underside and wavy margins. The small flowers are cup-shaped, droopin, borne in clusters of 1–3 at the end of branches, lacking petals and calyx lobes pinkish purple. Flowering occurs between April and December.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming
editThe species was first formally described by Swedish botanist Jonas Carlsson Dryander and the description was published in William Aiton's Hortus Kewensis in 1811 as Lasiopetalum purpureum.[6] The type specimen was collected by botanist Robert Brown from King George Sound in 1801. In 1821 French botanist Jacques Etienne Gay placed the species in the genus Thomasia.[7] The specific epithet (purpurea) means "purple".[8]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species grows in coastal regions of south-west Western Australia on ridges, flat lands, seasonally wet locations and sandy hills.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Thomasia purpurea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Thomasia purpurea". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b Grieg, Denise (1999). Field Guide to Australian Flowers. Australia: Averill Chase-New Holland. p. 410. ISBN 1864363347.
- ^ Wrigley, John; Fagg, Murray (2001). Australian Native Plants. Australia: Reed New Holland. p. 476. ISBN 1876334304.
- ^ Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 48–49. ISBN 9780646839301.
- ^ "Lasiopetalum purpureum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ "Thomasia purpurea". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 296. ISBN 9780958034180.