Grevillea leucoclada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grevillea leucoclada |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grevillea
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| Species: |
leucoclada
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The Grevillea leucoclada is a special kind of shrub. It belongs to the Grevillea family. This plant grows naturally in a small part of Western Australia. You can find it on the west coast, in a place called the Mid West region.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
This Grevillea is a bushy plant that spreads out. It usually grows to be about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet) tall. Its branches have a cool, pale, bluish-green color.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Grevillea leucoclada are quite interesting. They are deeply cut into three main parts. Each leaf blade can be from 60 to 140 millimeters (2 to 5.5 inches) long.
This shrub blooms with beautiful white flowers. You can see these flowers between August and December. They grow in clusters along the branches or at the very tips. After the flowers, the plant produces small fruits. These fruits are rough, oval-shaped, and about 10 to 14 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.
Reproduction and Similar Plants
The Grevillea leucoclada grows new plants only from its seeds. This means it needs its seeds to sprout for new plants to appear.
It looks a lot like another plant called Grevillea intricata. However, you can tell them apart. Grevillea intricata has branches that are not bluish-green. Also, its pollen-presenter (a part of the flower) stands up straight.
Where Does It Grow?
You can find Grevillea leucoclada in scrubland areas. It often grows among medium to low trees. It likes to live near the lower parts of the Murchison River. It also grows in the sandy plains around Geraldton. This plant prefers rocky, stony, gravelly, or sandy soils. It thrives in open areas where other shrubs also grow.
How Was It Discovered?
A botanist named Donald McGillivray first described this plant. He wrote about it in 1986. His description appeared in a science journal called New Names Grevillea.
What Does Its Name Mean?
The name leucoclada comes from two old Greek words. "Leucos" means "white," and "clados" means "shoot" or "sprout." When put together, leucocladus describes the plant as having "white shoots." This name perfectly fits its pale, bluish-green branches!
