Lawrencia diffusa (Benth.) Melville

Scientific Description

Shrub, with glabrous or scaly stems. Leaves 6-30 mm long, 1.5-7 mm wide, irregularly lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins entire; hairs and scales absent (leaves quite glabrous)with scales scales, Sessile glands absent; stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 1.7-2.2 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 1.5 mm long; glabrous. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent. Calyx 2.5 mm long, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs absent, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales scales present, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla white, 2.5 mm long, glabrous, scales absent. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 0.4-0.6 mm long; anthers 0.5-0.6 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs and scales absent (ovary quite glabrous); style 1, 2.5 mm long, with one or four style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Flowering time September, October or November. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean or South-West, IBRA Bioregion Yalgoo, Murchison, Coolgardie, Avon Wheatbelt, Mallee and Esperance.