Crimson flannelflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crimson flannelflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Actinotus
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| Species: |
suffocatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Hemiphues suffocata Hook.f. |
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The crimson flannelflower, also known as Actinotus suffocatus, is a small plant that lives for many years. It is a type of herb that grows only in the Australian state of Tasmania. You can usually find it in wet places high up in the mountains. However, in the far southwest of Tasmania, it also grows near the sea in areas that are always wet.
What is the Crimson Flannelflower?
The crimson flannelflower is a small plant that spreads underground using stems called rhizomes. It grows in a flat, dense mat. Its leaves grow in a circle close to the ground, like a rose. The plant has a cup-shaped cluster of flowers that sit directly on a short, upright stalk.
How the Crimson Flannelflower Got Its Name
Scientists give every living thing a special name. This helps them organize and understand nature. This process is called taxonomy.
The crimson flannelflower was first described by a scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker. He called it Hemiphues suffocata. He found these plants from samples collected by R.C.Gunn. These samples were found at Fatigue Hill, which is now called Calders Lookout. This area is near Mount Arrowsmith in central western Tasmania. Later, another scientist named Leonard Rodway moved the plant to a different group of plants called Actinotus. This is how it got its current name, Actinotus suffocatus.
