Thomasia angustifolia, commonly known as narrow-leaved thomasia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has densely hairy young stems, narrowly oblong, wrinkled leaves and pinkish-purple, bell-shaped flowers.
| Narrow-leaved thomasia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Thomasia |
| Species: | T. angustifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Thomasia angustifolia | |
Description
editThomasia angustifolia is a shrub that sometimes grows to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high and wide, but more usually 10–70 cm (3.9–27.6 in) high, its yound growth densely covered with star-shaped hairs. The leaves are usually narrowly oblong, 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) wide on a petiole 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The leaves are wavy and wrinkled with the edges rolled under, the lower side a paler shade of green and covered with star-shaped hairs. There are wing-like stipules 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long at the base of the petiole. The flowers are arranged in racemes of 2 to 8 that are 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) long, each flower up to 15 mm (0.59 in) wide, on a pedicel about 7 mm (0.28 in) long, with hairy bracteoles 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long at the base. The sepals are pink and hairy, the petals red and rounded but very small 1 mm (0.039 in) long, and the style is longer than the stamens.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editThomasia angustifolia was first formally described by botanist Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in 1845 who published the description in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.[4][5] The specific epithet (angustifolia) is from the Latin angustus meaning "narrow"[6]: 90 and folium meaning "leaf".[6]: 340
Distribution and habitat
editNarrow-leaved thomasia is found growing in loam, sand plains and occasionally damp locations near creeks from Albany and west to Esperance.[2]
References
edit- ^ Steudel, Ernst. "Thomasia angustifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ a b c "Thomasia angustifolia". FloraBase W.A. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9780646839301.
- ^ "Thomasia angustifolia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ von Steudel, Ernst G. (1845). Lehmann, Johann G.C.; Preiss, Ludwig (eds.). Plantae preissianae sive enumeratio plantarum quas in australasia occidentali et meridionali-occidentali. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. p. 232. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland W. (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington D.C: Smithsonian Institution Press.