Thysanotus multiflorus
| Thysanotus multiflorus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Lomandroideae |
| Genus: | Thysanotus |
| Species: | T. multiflorus |
| Binomial name | |
| Thysanotus multiflorus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Thysanotus multiflorus, commonly known as many-flowered fringe lily,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb, with linear to lance-shaped leaves, and usually a single umbel of four to 60 purple flowers with linear to lance-shaped sepals, elliptic, fringed petals and three stamens.
Description
[edit]Thysanotus multiflorus is a tufted perennial herb with a small rootstock enclosed by old leaf bases and with fibrous roots. Its three to 30 leaves are linear to narrowly lance-shaped, flat to more or less channelled, 70–570 mm (2.8–22.4 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide. The flowers are usually borne in a single umbel with four to 60 purple flowers, occasionally with a second umbel 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) below. Each flower is on a pedicel 6–28 mm (0.24–1.10 in) long. The perianth segments are 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) long, the sepals linear to narrowly lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide. The petals are elliptic, 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide, with a fringe 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long. There are three stamens, the anthers 5 mm (0.20 in) long and curved. The style is about 6 mm (0.24 in) long and curves in the opposite direction to the anthers. Flowering occurs from August to December or January, and the seeds are more or less cylindrical, 2 mm (0.079 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in diameter with a stalked, yellow aril.[2][3]
Taxonomy
[edit]Thysanotus multiflorus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[4][5] The specific epithet (multiflorus) means 'many-flowered'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Many-flowered fringe lily grows in coastal banksia scrub forest in sand in Eucalyptus marginata-Corymbia calophylla forest and Eucalyptus staeri forest in humus-rich sandy soils. It is found south-east of a line from the Avon River to Cape Riche in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren IBRA regions of south-western Western Australia.[2][3]
Conservation status
[edit]Thysanotus multiflorus is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Thysanotus multiflorus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "Thysanotus multiflorus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- 1 2 Brittan, Norman H. "Thysanotus multiflorus". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Thysanotus multiflorus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 285. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 264. ISBN 9780645629538.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Thysanotus multiflorus at Wikimedia Commons
