Helicteres sp. Carson River (I. Cowie & Wendell IC 4232)

Scientific Description

Shrub or tree, with hairy stems. Leaves 30-100 mm long, 3-8 mm wide, not lobed; margins entire; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves). Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 1-1.4 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent, 2.3-2.4 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 5.5-6.3 mm long, the lobes fused half or more of 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 absent. Corolla blue, 7-8.5 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 0.8-1.2 mm long; anthers 0.3-0.5 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes present, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs absent, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absent; style 1, 0.8-1 mm long, with one style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Fruits dehiscent (capsules and follicles), length-width ratio more or less as long as wide, hairs or scales present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, Sessile glands absent, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent; apex rounded; prickles absent (except perhaps a terminal awn); terminal awns or spines present; calyx deciduous before maturity, not accrescent; carpels 5; seeds per loculus ≥5. Flowering time May. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley.