Commersonia corniculata (Sm.) K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 15-70 mm long, 7-45 mm wide, tripartitely lobed or irregularly lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins crenate or sinuate; hairy, with Simple hairs (without tubercle bases), with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 10-30 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 5.5-6 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent. Calyx cream, 4-7 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 pink, 4-7 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens five, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 0.5-0.6 mm long; anthers 0.6-0.9 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, 0.5-0.8 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, hairs or scales present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, 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 present; calyx persistent to mature fruit, not accrescent. Flowering time August, September, October, November or December. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Swan Coastal Plain, Jarrah Forest, Warren and Esperance.