Adenanthos eyrei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adenanthos eyrei |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Adenanthos
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| Species: |
eyrei
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Adenanthos eyrei is a special kind of shrub, a plant with woody stems, that belongs to the Proteaceae family. It's only found in one specific place: a cliff-top dune system on the very remote south coast of Western Australia. Because it's so rare and only grows in one small area, it's listed as an endangered species. This means it's at risk of disappearing forever if we don't protect it.
A scientist named E. Charles Nelson first discovered this plant in 1973. He then officially described and named it in 1978.
Contents
What Does Adenanthos eyrei Look Like?
Adenanthos eyrei grows as an upright shrub, usually reaching about one metre (about 3 feet) tall. Its older stems have bark that feels bumpy or "warty."
- Leaves: The leaves are about 1.5 centimetres (0.6 inches) long. They usually have three parts, or "lobes," each up to 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) long and about 3 millimetres (0.1 inches) wide. Just like another plant called A. cuneata, the young leaves of A. eyrei are a bright red colour.
- Flowers: The flowers are a deep crimson, which is a dark red colour. The flower part called the "perianth" is about 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) long, and the "style" (a part of the flower that helps with reproduction) is about 3.5 centimetres (1.4 inches) long. Some people say it only flowers in October, while others say it can flower all year round.
How Was Adenanthos eyrei Named?
The first time a sample of A. eyrei was collected for scientific study was in October 1973. This happened when Ernest Charles Nelson was exploring the south coast of Australia. He was collecting different plant samples for a big study he was doing on the Adenanthos group of plants.
Nelson was interested in why some plants grow in separate, isolated areas in southern Australia. He collected plants from several places, including three cliff-top dune systems made of sandy soil. These sandy areas were separated from each other by the Nullarbor Plain, which has different, chalky soils. A. eyrei was only found on the sandy patch at Toolinna Cove.
Four years later, in 1978, Nelson officially published his study and named this new species Adenanthos eyrei. He named it after Edward John Eyre, who was the first explorer to visit that area. It's believed that Eyre passed through the Toolinna sandpatch around May 1, 1840.
Scientists often group plants into different categories to understand how they are related. Nelson placed A. eyrei into a group called A. sect. Adenanthos because of the shape of its flower tube.
A. eyrei is quite similar to another plant called A. forrestii. However, A. eyrei has much larger leaves and darker flowers. Scientists are still studying these plants to see if these differences are enough to keep them as separate species.
Common Names for Adenanthos eyrei
The most common name you might hear for A. eyrei is Toolinna Adenanthos. However, some people, including the scientist who discovered it, E. Charles Nelson, think that "Eyre's Adenanthos" would be a better name. This is because it would honour Edward John Eyre, the explorer the plant was originally named after.
Where Does Adenanthos eyrei Live?
This special plant is only known to exist in one single population. It grows on a cliff-top dune system about 200 metres (about 650 feet) east of Toolinna Cove. This area is on the coast of the Nullarbor Plain in southern Western Australia.
Even in this one location, A. eyrei is very rare. Studies show that there are only about 200 to 250 individual plants in total. It grows on deep sandy dunes, among low, open scrubland or sandy heath areas. Other plants that grow alongside it include A. forrestii, A. cuneatus, Banksia epica, and B. media.
Protecting Adenanthos eyrei
Because Adenanthos eyrei is so rare, it is officially protected by laws in Western Australia and by federal laws in Australia. It's listed as endangered, meaning it needs help to survive.
Here are some of the things that can threaten this plant:
- Fire: Unlike some plants that can regrow from underground parts after a fire, A. eyrei is killed by fire. New plants can only grow from seeds left in the soil. If fires happen too often, the plants might not have enough time to grow, produce seeds, and store them in the soil before the next fire. This could stop new plants from growing.
- Disease: There are different reports about whether A. eyrei is easily affected by a plant disease called Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback. Some reports say it's very vulnerable, but others say its resistance to the disease has never been properly checked.
- Wind Erosion: Since A. eyrei grows on a cliff-top dune system, strong winds can cause the sand to blow away, which can damage or uncover the plants.
- Vehicle Tracks: One of the main dirt roads used to access the area goes right through where these plants grow. Vehicles could directly damage the plants, spread diseases, or make the wind erosion worse.
Luckily, the area where A. eyrei lives is mostly safe from other threats. It's located entirely within the Nuytsland Nature Reserve, which is a protected area. Also, it's a very remote place, so not many people visit it.
The Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia is working on a five-year plan to help protect A. eyrei. Some of the actions they are taking or thinking about include:
- Studying the plant more closely to understand its species better.
- Closing the vehicle track that goes through the plant population.
- Regularly checking and mapping the plants and their habitat.
- Collecting and storing seeds of the plant in a special seed bank, away from its natural habitat (this is called ex-situ storage).
- Collecting parts of the plant (called cuttings) to grow them at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens.
- Doing more research into how the plant lives and interacts with its environment.
Can Adenanthos eyrei Be Grown in Gardens?
Adenanthos eyrei is not known to be grown in gardens or by plant enthusiasts. It probably doesn't have much potential to be a garden plant.
- Adenanthos eyrei — Toolinna Adenanthos, Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia.
See also
In Spanish: Adenanthos eyrei para niños
