Thomasia Explained

Thomasia is a genus of thirty-one species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. Plants in this genus are small shrubs that are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, apart from T. petalocalyx that is native to Victoria and South Australia. The leaves are simple with leaf-like stipules at the base of the petiole, the flowers bisexual with five papery, petal-like sepals, usually five petals and five stamens opposite the petals. The fruit is a capsule covered with star-like hairs.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

The genus Thomasia was first formally described in 1821 by Jaques Étienne Gay in Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle.[3] [4] The name Thomasia honours Pierre Thomas, his son Abraham, and Abraham's sons Philippe, Louis and Emmanuel, a family of Swiss plant collectors.[5]

Species list

The following is a listed of Thomasia species recognised by the Australian Plant Census as at December 2020:[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Short . Philip Sydney . Thomasia . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 11 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Thomasia . State Herbarium of South Australia . 11 December 2020.
  3. Web site: Thomasia. APNI. 11 December 2020.
  4. Gay . Jaques E. . Monographie des Cinq Genres de Plantes, Lasiopétalées . Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle . 1821 . 7 . 450–452 . 11 December 2020.
  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 118 . 3rd.
  6. Web site: Thomasia . Australian Plant Census . 11 December 2020.