Asterolasia pallida facts for kids
Asterolasia pallida is a type of small, woody plant that lives for many years. It is found only in the southwest part of Western Australia. This plant has oval-shaped leaves and white flowers that grow in clusters. The flowers have tiny, star-shaped hairs on the back of their petals and many stamens, which are the parts that make pollen.
Quick facts for kids Asterolasia pallida |
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| Genus: |
Asterolasia
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| Species: |
pallida
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Contents
What Asterolasia pallida Looks Like
Asterolasia pallida is a small, woody plant that usually grows to about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can grow from an underground stem called a rhizome.
Its leaves are oval-shaped and are about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long. They have tiny, star-shaped hairs on their underside.
The flowers grow in clusters of three to six, like tiny umbrellas. They appear where leaves meet stems and at the tips of branches. Each flower sits on a thin stalk, about 3 to 10 millimeters long. The petals are white and oval, about 4 to 8 millimeters long. They have tiny, star-shaped hairs on their back; some are rust-colored, and others are clear. Each flower has 15 to 25 stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
How Asterolasia pallida Got Its Name
Asterolasia pallida was first officially named in 1863 by a botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in a book called Flora Australiensis. The plants he studied were collected by another botanist, James Drummond.
In 1998, a botanist named Paul Wilson described two different types, or subspecies, of Asterolasia pallida. These names are now accepted by the Australian Plant Census.
- Asterolasia pallida subspecies hyalina: This type has only clear, colorless hairs on the back of its petals. It is found only in the Dryandra State Forest, which is southeast of Perth.
- Asterolasia pallida subspecies pallida: This type has both clear and reddish hairs on the back of its petals. It is found in many places across the Darling Range.
Where Asterolasia pallida Lives
This plant grows in areas with laterite soil. You can find it in forests where jarrah and marri trees grow. These forests are located on the Darling Range, stretching from near Perth down to Manjimup. The subspecies hyalina is only found in the Dryandra State Forest.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Asterolasia pallida is "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
