Commersonia borealis (E.Pritz.) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 25-35 mm long, 7-20 mm wide, not lobed or tripartitely lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins entire or crenate; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 8-15 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 3.5-6 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent. Calyx white, 2.5-4 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, Sessile glands absent, stellate hairs present, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla yellow, 2.5-4 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens five, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 0.3-1 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; styles several, free and separate, arising from the summit of the ovary, 0.3-1 mm long, with five style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Fruits dehiscent (capsules and follicles), length-width ratio more or less as long as wide, mericarps smooth, 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 present, abundantly covering the fruit; terminal awns or spines absent; calyx persistent to mature fruit, not accrescent. Flowering time July, August, September, October or November. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean or South-West, IBRA Bioregion Yalgoo, Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain.