Recherche astartea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Recherche astartea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Astartea
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| Species: |
fascicularis
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Astartea fascicularis is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. This plant grows only in the southwestern part of Western Australia. You can find it widely in the Recherche Archipelago. It also grows on the mainland in Cape Le Grand National Park. People often call it the Recherche astartea or false baeckea.
What it Looks Like
This plant is a shrub. It usually grows up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall in windy places. In areas that are more protected, it can reach about 3 meters (almost 10 feet) high.
It can have one main stem or many stems. Sometimes, its branches can grow roots when they touch the ground. This helps the plant spread. This process is called layering.
New stems are reddish in color. They often have ridges or small wings. Older stems turn grey. They can develop reddish and grey stripes. These older stems also have deeper ridges.
The leaves of the plant are often grouped together. These groups are called fascicles. Each leaf can be as thick as it is wide, or even thicker. They can grow up to 1.2 centimeters (about half an inch) long.
The flowers grow in pairs along the branches. Their petals are usually white. Sometimes, they can be a light pink color. Each flower has groups of several stamens. These are the parts that make pollen. It also usually has a few staminodes. These are stamens that do not make pollen. After the flower blooms, it forms a small fruit. This fruit is a capsule, about 2 or 3 millimeters long.
Where it Grows
The Astartea fascicularis plant is found in different spots across Western Australia. You can see it in the South West, Great Southern, and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
It often grows near water. This includes along rivers and in areas that get wet during winter. It prefers sandy soils and a type of soil called lateritic soil.
This shrub also grows on granite rocks. It can be found in windy coastal areas. It also grows in more sheltered scrublands further inland.
