Thysanotus glaucifolius
Thysanotus glaucifolius is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb, with about ten terete leaves, umbels of purple flowers, oblong sepals, elliptic, fringed petals, three stamens and a straight style.
Description
Thysanotus glaucifolius is a tufted perennial herb with a small rootstock and fibrous roots. Its approximately ten leaves are apparently perennial, about long, wide, terete above and with membranous wings below. The flowers are borne in umbels of four to six, on a flowering stem long, each flower on a pedicel about long. The flowers are purple, the perianth segments long. The sepals are oblong, about wide and there are three stamens, the anthers long. The style is straight, about long. Flowering occurs from October to December or January, and the seeds are cylindrical, about long and in diameter with a pale yellow, stalked aril.
Taxonomy
Thysanotus glaucifolius was first formally described in 1981 by Norman Henry Brittan in the journal Brunonia from specimens he collected north of the Kalgan River on the Albany-Borden Road in 1951. The specific epithet means 'bluish-green' or 'green-leaved'.
Distribution and habitat
This species of Thysanotus grows in sandplain vegetation in sand and coastal low woodland between Nannup and Esperance in the south of Western Australia.
Conservation status
Thysanotus glaucifolius is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.