Lemon starbush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lemon starbush |
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| Subspecies asteriscophora | |
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| Subspecies albiflora in Emerald | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asterolasia
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| Species: |
asteriscophora
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| Synonyms | |
The Asterolasia asteriscophora, commonly known as the lemon starbush, is a special type of shrub found only in southern Australia. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which is the same family as citrus fruits like lemons! This plant is called a "starbush" because its young branches are covered in soft, star-shaped hairs. It has leaves that come in different shapes and pretty yellow flowers, though sometimes they can be white.
What the Lemon Starbush Looks Like
The lemon starbush is a slender, upright shrub that usually grows to be about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) tall. Its new branches are covered with soft, star-shaped hairs that can be grey or brown.
The leaves of the lemon starbush can be shaped like a spoon (spatula-shaped), an egg (egg-shaped), a wedge (wedge-shaped), or an oval (elliptic). They are typically 3 to 30 millimeters (0.1 to 1.2 inches) long and 2 to 10 millimeters (0.08 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each leaf sits on a short stalk called a petiole. The top surface of the leaves is mostly smooth, while the underside is covered with soft, brownish or whitish hairs.
The flowers are usually yellow, but sometimes they can be white. They grow either by themselves or in small groups where the leaves meet the stem (called leaf axils), or at the ends of the branches. Each flower has a small stalk called a pedicel, which can be 2 to 20 millimeters (0.08 to 0.8 inches) long. The petals of the flowers are 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and have woolly brown star-shaped hairs on their back. The lemon starbush usually blooms in spring.
How the Lemon Starbush Got Its Name
This plant was first described in 1855 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He first called it Phebalium asteriscophora. Later, in 1917, another scientist named George Claridge Druce changed its name to Asterolasia asteriscophora, which is the name we use today.
In 2002, a scientist named Bryan J. Mole found that there are two slightly different types of lemon starbush, which he called subspecies. These subspecies are recognized by the Australian Plant Census:
- Asterolasia asteriscophora subsp. albiflora: This subspecies has white, or sometimes very pale yellow, petals. Its leaves and flowers are generally smaller than the other type.
- Asterolasia asteriscophora subsp. asteriscophora: This subspecies has bright yellow petals that can be up to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. Its leaves are usually longer than 12 millimeters (0.5 inches).
Where the Lemon Starbush Lives
The lemon starbush grows in many places along the Great Dividing Range in Australia. You can find it from the Tumut area in New South Wales all the way to the Macedon and Emerald areas in Victoria. It likes to grow in forests and along the edges of streams and rivers.
The subspecies albiflora is only found in a small area around Emerald and Avonsleigh in Victoria. Sadly, this subspecies is facing a threat because of new buildings and towns being built in its habitat.
