Thomasia rulingioides Steud.

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 5-30 mm long, 2-10 mm wide, not lobed; margins entire or sinuate; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 2.5-10 mm long. Perianth of two whorls but the corolla reduced to small scales or tiny lobes at the base of the ovary. Pedicel present, 3.2-3.5 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 3-6 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx pink or purple, 5.5-8 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs present, one. Corolla 0.8-1 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens five, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 1.2-1.5 mm long; anthers 2.4-2.8 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs absent, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absent; style 1, with a lobed or capitate stigma, 2.4-2.7 mm long, with one style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Flowering time May, June, July, August, September or October. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Geraldton Sandplains, Swan Coastal Plain, Avon Wheatbelt and Esperance.