Thomasia glabripetala

Thomasia glabripetala is an open shrub that typically grows up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) high, 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide and has its branchlets densely covered with brownish, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are elliptic or oblong, 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) long and 7–18 mm (0.28–0.71 in) wide, on a petiole 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long with leaf-like, kidney-shaped or lobed stipules 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) long at the base. The leaves are slightly wrinkled, both surfaces covered with star-shaped hairs, pale on the upper surface and rusty brown on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged in racemes of 4 to 7 in leaf axils on a hairy peduncle, each flower on a pedicel 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) long, with 3 hairy, elliptic bracteoles 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) long at the base. The sepals are purplish-pink, 9–17 mm (0.35–0.67 in) long with 5 lobes 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long. Flowering occurs in September and October and the fruit is a capsule about 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[2][3][4]

Thomasia glabripetala was first formally described in 1993 by Susan Paust in the journal Nuytsia, from specimens she collected near York in 1991.[2][5] The specific epithet (glabripetala) means "smooth petals", referring to features that distinguish this species from T. montana.[2]

This thomasia grows in the open shrub layer of remnant woodland east of York in the Avon Wheatbelt bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[3][4]

Thomasia glabripetala is listed as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[4] meaning that it is in danger of extinction.[6]