Thysanotus brevifolius
| Thysanotus brevifolius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Lomandroideae |
| Genus: | Thysanotus |
| Species: | T. brevifolius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thysanotus brevifolius N.H.Brittan[1]
| |
Thysanotus brevifolius is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a tufted, rhizomatous, perennial herb, with narrow, flat leaves, umbels of 20 to 50 purple flowers with linear sepals, elliptic, fringed petals, six stamens and a straight style.
Description
Thysanotus brachyantherus is a tufted perennial herb with a small rootstock and fibrous roots. There are about 20 to 25 linear, narrow, flat and glabrous annual leaves up to 80 mm (3.1 in) long. The flowers are borne in umbels of 20 to 50 flowers on a scape 180–240 mm (7.1–9.4 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. The flowers are purple, the perianth segments are 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long. The sepals are more or less lance-shaped, about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide and the are petals are elliptic, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) wide with a fringe about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. There are six stamens, the anthers of different lengths, and the style is about 5 mm (0.20 in) long. Flowering occurs in November.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
Thysanotus brevifolius was first formally described in 1960 by Norman Henry Brittan in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia from specimens he collected 32 mi (51 km) north of Albany in 1958.[2][5] The specific epithet (brevifolius) means 'short-leaved'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
This species grows sandy-loamy soils in open mallee heath, to the south and north-west of the Stirling Range, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest bioregions of southern Western Australia.[3][4]
Conservation status
Thysanotus brevifolius is listed as "Priority Two" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[4] meaning that it is poorly known and from one or a few locations.[7]
References
- ^ "Thysanotus brevifolius". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ a b Brittan, Norman H. (1960). "New Western Australian Species of Thysanotus R. Br. (Liliaceae)". Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. 43: 12. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ a b Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus brevifolius". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Thysanotus brevifolius". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Thysanotus brevifolius". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN 9780645629538.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 14 August 2025.