Thomasia solanacea (Sims) J.Gay

Scientific Description

Shrub, with scaly stems. Leaves 45-90 mm long, 20-60 mm wide, not lobed, tripartitely lobed or irregularly lobed, simply (once-)lobed or complexly (twice-)lobed; margins sinuate; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 10-20 mm long. Perianth of two whorls but the corolla reduced to small scales or tiny lobes at the base of the ovary. Pedicel present, 3-5 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 3.5-5 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx pink, blue or purple, 7-8 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 0.4-0.6 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens five, free and inserted at the base of the ovary; filaments present, 0.7-1.6 mm long; anthers 2.8-3.8 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, with a lobed or capitate stigma, 2.2-2.7 mm long, with one style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Flowering time September, October, November or December. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Jarrah Forest, Warren and Esperance. Conservation Code Priority Four (P4).