Thomasia petalocalyx

Thomasia petalocalyx is a shrub that typically grows to 0.5–1.5 m (1 ft 8 in – 4 ft 11 in) high, 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) wide and has its new growth covered in star-shaped hairs. The leaves are oblong to egg-shaped, 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) wide on a petiole 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long with hairy brown, wing-like stipules 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long at the base of the petioles. The leaves are covered with star-shaped hairs, and the edges are wrinkled, turned down and finely toothed. The flowers are arranged singly or in racemes of up to 5 on a red peduncle 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) long near the ends of the branches. Each flower is on a pedicel 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long, with 3 bracteoles 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long at the base. The sepals are mauve and form a cup-shaped flower 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide, the petals deep red and tiny.[2][3][4][5]

Thomasia petalocalyx was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in his book Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants.[6][7] The specific epithet (petalocalyx) refers to the petal-like sepals.[3]

Paper flower grows in forest, woodland, coastal heath and on granite outcrops in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of southern Western Australia, in the south-east of South Australia, including on Kangaroo Island, and in scattered locations in the west and south-west of Victoria, with an isolated population on Wilsons Promontory, where it is common.[2][3][4][5]