Thysanotus tenellus
| Thysanotus tenellus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Lomandroideae |
| Genus: | Thysanotus |
| Species: | T. tenellus |
| Binomial name | |
| Thysanotus tenellus | |
Thysanotus tenellus, commonly known as grassy fringe-lily,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south-west of Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with a small rootstock, tuberous roots, about 5 to 27 linear, usually hairy, channnelled leaves and umbels of up to four purple, sometimes white flowers with lance-shaped sepals, elliptic, fringed petals and six stamens.
Description
Thysanotus tenellus is a perennial herb with a small rootstock. Its roots are tuberous, the tubers stalked about 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long. Five to 27 leaves are produced annually, channelled and ridged on the lower surface, 100–280 mm (3.9–11.0 in) long with the edges usually hairy. The flowers are borne in panicles 70–440 mm (2.8–17.3 in) long with up to four umbels, each flower on a pedical 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) long. The perianth segments are 6.5–13 mm (0.26–0.51 in) long, the sepals lance-shaped, about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) wide and the petals are purple, sometimes white, about 5.5 mm (0.22 in) wide with a fringe about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. There are six stamens, the outer three anthers 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and the three inner anthers 2.5–5 mm (0.098–0.197 in) long. The style is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to November, and the seeds are more or less spherical, about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in diameter with a straw-coloured aril.[3][4]
Taxonomy
Thysanotus tenellus was first formally described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae from specimens collected in October 1840.[5][6] The specific epithet (tenellus) means 'delicate'.[7]
Distribution and habitat
This species of Thysanotus grows in granite, loam, sandy clay or sand in swamps, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia and in South Australia.[4]
Conservation status
Thysanotus tenellus is listed as 'not threatened' by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[4]
References
- ↑ "Thysanotus tenellus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Thysanotus tenellus". Seeds of South Australia. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Brittan, Norman Henry. "Thysanotus tenellus". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Thysanotus tenellus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ↑ "Thysanotus tenellus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Endlicher, Stephan (1846). Lehmann, Johann G.C. (ed.). Plantae preissianae sive enumeratio plantarum quas in australasia occidentali et meridionali-occidentali annis. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. pp. 37–38. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 333. ISBN 9780645629538.