Boronia exilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia exilis |
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The Boronia exilis is a special plant that belongs to the citrus family called Rutaceae. It is found only in a small part of Western Australia, in the south-west region. This plant is a tall, slender perennial, which means it lives for many years. It has simple, roundish leaves that are spaced out along its stems. Its pretty pink flowers have four petals and grow in groups of three to nine at the ends of the branches.
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What Does Boronia exilis Look Like?
Boronia exilis is a slender plant that can grow up to about 1 m (3 ft) tall. It has many thin, smooth branches. Its leaves are simple and look like small cylinders, about 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long. These leaves often fall off early, so the lower parts of the stems might not have many leaves.
The flowers are pink and grow in small bunches. Each flower sits on a short stalk, about 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long. At the base of these stalks are small, hairy leaf-like parts called bracts, which fall off as the flower grows. The flower has four dark red sepals, which are hairy and about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. It also has four pink petals, which are oval-shaped and about 7 mm (0.3 in) long. Inside the flower, there are eight hairy stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
How Was Boronia exilis Named?
The Boronia exilis was officially described in 1998 by a scientist named Paul G. Wilson. He published its description in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant was found in the Scott National Park.
The second part of its scientific name, exilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "thin" or "slender." This name perfectly describes the thin stems of this boronia plant.
Where Does Boronia exilis Live?
This special boronia plant is only found in one specific area: the Scott River region. It likes to grow in places where the ground is wet during certain times of the year, in what is called "seasonally wet heath."
Why Is Boronia exilis Important to Protect?
The Boronia exilis is a very rare plant. It is listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The plant is also called "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia.
Scientists and conservationists have created a plan to help protect this plant. Some of the main dangers to Boronia exilis include:
- Fires: Fires that happen too often or at the wrong time can harm the plant.
- Plant Disease: A disease caused by a tiny organism called Phytophthora cinnamomi can make the plants sick and kill them.
- Road Work: Activities like maintaining roads can sometimes disturb the areas where these plants grow.
Protecting Boronia exilis helps keep the natural environment healthy and saves unique plants for the future.
