About Thomasia grandiflora Lindl.
Thomasia grandiflora, common name large-flowered thomasia, is a small shrub that grows to around 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) tall and wide. Its dark, bright green leaves vary in shape, most commonly heart-shaped, and occasionally narrowly elliptic. The leaves are slightly flexible, leathery, and measure 15 to 25 millimetres (0.59 to 0.98 inches) long. The flowers of this species have wide, noticeable pinkish-purple calyx lobes that are more prominent than the petals. The calyx is thicker near its mid-vein. The small petals are densely covered with star-shaped hairs, and occasionally only have a few scattered hairs. The flowers have a papery texture, measure about 2 centimetres (0.79 inches) across, and grow on short pendant stalks. After flowering, the plant produces capsules that contain black seeds, which are shed from the plant when they ripen. Flowering of Thomasia grandiflora takes place from winter through to spring. Large-flowered thomasia is a widespread species. It occurs mostly in near-coastal areas of the south-west of Western Australia, where it grows in open forest.
