Thomasia petalocalyx F.Muell.
Paper Flower

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 12-1230 mm long, 4-11 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), 5-12 mm long. Perianth of two whorls but the corolla reduced to small scales or tiny lobes at the base of the ovary. Pedicel present, 4-7 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 4-6 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx pink, blue or purple, 5.2-8 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 0.6-1.2 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens five, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 1.5-1.8 mm long; anthers 1.7-2.5 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, 1.6-2.3 mm long, with one style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Flowering time January, August, September or October. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Warren and Esperance.