Bindoon starbush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bindoon starbush |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asterolasia
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| Species: |
nivea
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| Synonyms | |
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Urocarpus niveus Paul G.Wilson |
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The Asterolasia nivea, often called the Bindoon starbush, is a special kind of small plant. It is a weak sub-shrub that only grows in the southwest part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area, found nowhere else in the world!
The Bindoon starbush has tough, leathery leaves that are shaped like long ovals. Its beautiful white flowers grow in small groups of about three. If you look closely, you'll see tiny, star-shaped hairs on the back of the flower petals. These hairs are thick in the middle and look a bit like tiny shields.
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Discovering the Bindoon Starbush
The Bindoon starbush is a small plant that usually grows to be about 50 cm (20 in) (about 20 inches) tall. Its leaves are narrow and oval-shaped, about 12 mm (0.47 in) (less than half an inch) long. Each leaf sits on a short stalk called a petiole. The leaves are covered in tiny, star-shaped hairs, which give the plant a unique look.
Flowers of the Starbush
The flowers of the Bindoon starbush are usually found in groups of about three. They grow where the leaves meet the stem (called a leaf axil) or at the ends of the branches. Each flower has its own small stalk, known as a pedicel, which can be up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long. These little stalks are also covered in star-shaped hairs.
The flower petals are white and oval-shaped, measuring about 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. On the back of each petal, there are thick, star-shaped hairs. These hairs form a protective shield over the flower bud before it opens. Inside each flower, you will find between fifteen and twenty stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
Naming the Bindoon Starbush
Scientists give plants special names to help identify them. The Bindoon starbush was first officially described in 1980 by a scientist named Paul Wilson. He first named it Urocarpus niveus. He shared his findings in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 1987, Paul Wilson decided to change the name of the plant to Asterolasia nivea. He published this change in the same journal, Nuytsia.
A Name Change Discussion
In 2017, another scientist, Juliet A. Wege, suggested that Asterolasia nivea might actually be the same plant as Asterolasia grandiflora, but with white flowers. She thought that A. nivea should be considered a synonym (another name for the same thing) of A. grandiflora.
The Western Australian Herbarium has accepted this idea, meaning they agree with the name change. However, the Australian Plant Census, another important group that keeps track of plant names, has not yet officially accepted this change. So, for now, both names are sometimes used.
Where the Starbush Lives
The Bindoon starbush grows in a specific type of soil, often found in gravel. You can find this plant in the area between New Norcia and Bindoon in Western Australia. It thrives in this particular environment, making it a unique part of the local plant life.
