Levenhookia pulcherrima

Levenhookia pulcherrima Carlquist

Levenhookia pulcherrima is an annual herb in the Stylidiaceae family, native to Western Australia. It grows 3–16 cm tall with glandular hairs and a dark red stem. The leaves are green above and green or reddish below, with shapes ranging from oblanceolate to elliptic. Flowers are pink to pale pink with a white throat and dark pink markings on the upper lobes, arranged in umbels or corymbs. The species is distinguished by its corolla lobe shape, labellum, and stigma features. It is closely related to L. preissii and L. pauciflora but has unique characteristics. The name derives from the Latin 'pulcherrimus,' meaning 'prettiest.'

Description

Levenhookia pulcherrima is an annual herb in the Stylidiaceae family, native to Western Australia. It reaches heights of 3–16 cm, with glandular hairs 0.15–4 mm long. The stem is dark red, often paler at the tip, and may have lateral branches. Leaves are cauline, scattered, with green adaxial and green or reddish abaxial surfaces. Leaf laminae vary in shape and are sparsely glandular-hairy. Flowers are arranged in umbels, corymbs, or elongated racemes, with 3–100 per plant. The corolla is pink to pale pink with a white throat and dark pink markings on the upper lobes. The hypanthium is globose or ellipsoid, and the calyx lobes are subequal. The species is distinguished by its corolla lobe, labellum, and stigma morphology, setting it apart from related species like L. preissii and L. pauciflora.