Rulingia corylifolia auct. non Graham: Steudel, E.G. von in Lehmann, J.G.C. (ed.) (1845)
Commersonia parviflora, commonly known as small flowered rulingia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a low, prostrate or dense shrub with wrinkled, egg-shaped leaves with rounded teeth on the edges, and clusters of small, white flowers.
Description
Commersonia parviflora is a low, prostrate or dense shrub that typically grows to 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) high and 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) wide, its new stems hairy. The leaves are egg-shaped and wrinkled, 5–19 mm (0.20–0.75 in) long and 1–9 mm (0.039–0.354 in) wide on a petiole 1–6 mm (0.039–0.236 in) long with stipules 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long at the base. The edges of the leaves have irregular, rounded lobes with the edges rolled under, the upper surface has prominent veins and the lower surface is densely covered with star-shaped hairs. The flowers are arranged in clusters of 2 to 11 on a peduncle 2–12 mm (0.079–0.472 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long. The flowers are 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) wide with five white, petal-like sepals that are hairy on the back. The petals have a linear ligule half as long as the sepals, and there is a single hairy staminode between each pair of stamens. Flowering occurs from July to November and the fruit is a hairy capsule 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter.[3]
^ abBlake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 194–195. ISBN9780646839301.
^Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 271. ISBN9780958034180.
