Boronia humifusa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia humifusa |
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium |
The Boronia humifusa is a special plant found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It belongs to the same plant family as citrus fruits, called Rutaceae. This plant is low-growing and usually doesn't have many hairs. It has thin, four-sided branches and simple, flat leaves. You can spot its pretty pink or red flowers, which have four petals, growing in groups at the ends of its branches.
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What Does Boronia Humifusa Look Like?
Boronia humifusa is a low plant that grows close to the ground. It can reach about 0.2 m (0.7 ft) tall. Its stems have four distinct angles. The plant is mostly smooth, meaning it doesn't have many hairs.
- The leaves* are simple and shaped like an oval or ellipse. They are about 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. The top surface of the leaves feels a little rough.
- The flowers* are pink or red. They grow in small groups called cymes. Each flower sits on a small stalk, called a pedicel, which is about 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long.
- Flower parts*:
- There are four triangular sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They are about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long and have tiny bumps called glands.
- The four petals are oval-shaped and about 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. Their ends are rounded, and their bases overlap each other.
- Inside the flower, there are eight stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. They are hairy and all look similar.
This plant usually flowers in June or September.
How Did Boronia Humifusa Get Its Name?
The scientific name Boronia humifusa was first officially described in 1998. This was done by a botanist named Paul G. Wilson. He published his description in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant he studied was found near the road between Capel and Donnybrook.
The second part of the name, humifusa, is a Latin word. It means "spread-out over the ground." This name perfectly describes how this boronia plant grows low and wide.
Where Does It Grow?
This special boronia plant is only found in a small area of Western Australia. It grows between the towns of Busselton and Donnybrook. You can usually find it growing in open forests in this region.
Is It Endangered?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Boronia humifusa as "Priority One". This means it is a very rare plant. It is known to grow in only one or a few places. These locations could be at risk, so the plant needs special protection to help it survive.
