Mountain woodruff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain woodruff |
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| Asperula gunnii, Baw Baw National Park, Victoria | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asperula
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| Species: |
gunnii
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| Synonyms | |
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Asperula oligantha var. gunnii (Hook.f.) Maiden & Betche nom. illeg. |
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The mountain woodruff (scientific name: Asperula gunnii) is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the family called Rubiaceae. This plant is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. You can only find it growing naturally in Australia.
Contents
What Does the Mountain Woodruff Look Like?
The mountain woodruff has leaves that usually grow in circles. These circles are called whorls. Each whorl has about 4 to 6 leaves. The leaves are small, usually 4 to 8 mm long and about 2.5 mm wide. They have pointed ends.
Flowers and Fruits
White flowers appear on the plant during the summer. They grow in small clusters at the ends of stems or where leaves join the stem. Male flowers are about 2 mm long, and female flowers are a bit longer, around 3 mm. After the flowers, the plant produces small black fruits. These fruits are only 1 to 2 mm long.
Where Does the Mountain Woodruff Grow?
The mountain woodruff grows in wet or swampy places. You can find it in grasslands or wooded areas. It prefers to grow at high altitudes, which means in places that are high above sea level.
Natural Habitat in Australia
This plant is found in several parts of Australia. It grows in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales.
How Was the Mountain Woodruff Discovered?
The mountain woodruff was first officially described in 1847. An English botanist named Joseph Dalton Hooker gave it its scientific name. He studied plant samples that were collected by Ronald Gunn.
Plant Collection and Naming
Ronald Gunn collected these plants in 1840. He found them near the Nive River in Tasmania. Joseph Dalton Hooker then used these samples to formally describe the species.
