Wilsonia humilis | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Solanales |
Family: | Convolvulaceae |
Genus: | Wilsonia |
Species: | W. humilis
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Binomial name | |
Wilsonia humilis | |
Synonyms | |
Frankenia cymbifolia Hook. |
Wilsonia humilis, the silky wilsonia, is a species of perennial subshrub in the family Convolvulaceae. The species is endemic to Australia, occurring in coastal saltmarshes and also occasionally in inland saline areas, often colonising bare ground. [2] [3]
Silky wilsonia is a low-growing mat forming species, growing to 10 cm tall. The plant is covered with short, white hairs imparting a silvery appearance. The small, crowded leaves are concave and overlapping and are 1.5 to 4 mm long and 2 to 3 mm long. [3] White flowers appear between September and December in the species' native range. [4] These are followed by capsular fruits which are 3 mm long. [3]
The species was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. [1]
The species is native to Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. [5] It has been recorded in New South Wales, but the record is regarded as doubtful. [5] In Tasmania, the species is rare, occurring near Pitwater, Dunalley and Cape Portland. [6]