Commersonia craurophylla - Brittle-leaved Rulingia
Commersonia is a genus of plants in the mallows family. Plants in this genus occur from Indochina to Australia. They have stems, leaves and flowers covered with star-like hairs. Commersonia craurophylla occurs mainly in the dry Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia. The flower composition is interesting and what initially look to be 5 large white petals are actually the white sepals. The petals are the tiny cream shoehorn looking components, of which each cradles a short stamen. The white points are actually staminodes (infertile stamens) that are positioned between each fertile stamen (those with anthers). The very short stigma can just be seen at the flower centre. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/40923nofollow&quo...
Commersonia craurophylla - Brittle-leaved Rulingia
Commersonia is a genus of plants in the mallows family. Plants in this genus occur from Indochina to Australia. They have stems, leaves and flowers covered with star-like hairs. Commersonia craurophylla occurs mainly in the dry Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia. The flower composition is interesting and what initially look to be 5 large white petals are actually the white sepals. The petals are the tiny cream shoehorn looking components, of which each cradles a short stamen. The white points are actually staminodes (infertile stamens) that are positioned between each fertile stamen (those with anthers). The very short stigma can just be seen at the flower centre. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/40923nofollow&quo...