Baeckea elderiana facts for kids

Baeckea elderiana is a special type of shrub that grows only in central Western Australia. It's a unique plant found in this part of the world.

What is Baeckea elderiana?

This plant is a shrub that stands upright. It usually grows to be about 0.3 to 2.5 meters (1 to 8 feet) tall. Imagine a plant that can be as short as your knee or taller than a grown-up!

Baeckea elderiana is known for its pretty white flowers. These flowers bloom for many months, from March all the way through November. That's most of the year!

How it was Discovered and Named

This plant was first officially described by a botanist named Ernst Georg Pritzel in 1904. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He wrote about it in a science journal.

The first samples of Baeckea elderiana were collected during a big trip called the Elder expedition. This expedition started in Adelaide in April 1891 and finished in Geraldton in 1892. A person named Richard Helms collected the plant samples during this journey.

The plant was named after Thomas Elder. He was the person who paid for the entire expedition. So, the plant got its name to honor him.

Where it Grows

You can find Baeckea elderiana in several parts of Western Australia. It likes to grow in places like flat sandy areas, small hills, and rocky ridges.

It grows well in different kinds of soil, including sandy, loamy (a mix of sand, silt, and clay), and stony soils. This shows how tough and adaptable this plant can be! It's found in the Mid West, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields-Esperance regions.