Boronia laxa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia laxa |
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| B. laxa growing in Kakadu National Park | |
| Scientific classification |
Boronia laxa is a unique plant that belongs to the citrus family called Rutaceae. It is found only in a small area of the Northern Territory, Australia. This means it is endemic to that specific place.
It is a low-lying, short-lived shrub. Its branches, leaves, and even parts of its flowers have tiny hairs. It has simple leaves, meaning each leaf is just one piece. Its flowers can be white or a light purple color. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are longer and wider than the petals.
About Boronia laxa
Boronia laxa is a shrub that grows close to the ground. It usually reaches about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) high. It can spread out to about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) wide. It has many branches.
Its branches, leaves, and some flower parts are covered with tiny hairs that look like stars. The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. They are simple, meaning they are not divided into smaller leaflets. The leaves are oval-shaped. They are usually between 10 and 45 millimeters long (about 0.4 to 1.8 inches). They are 2.5 to 10 millimeters wide (about 0.1 to 0.4 inches). Each leaf has a short stalk called a petiole, which is 0.5 to 3 millimeters long.
The flowers are white, pink, or light purple. Each flower grows on a small stalk called a pedicel, which is 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters long. The sepals are shaped like a spear or an egg. They are 4 to 6 millimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. The petals are smaller, 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long and 1 to 2 millimeters wide. Both the sepals and petals grow larger as the fruit starts to form. This plant mostly flowers from January to June.
Naming the Plant
Boronia laxa was first officially described in 1997. This was done by a scientist named Marco F. Duretto. He published his description in a scientific journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
The second part of its scientific name, laxa, comes from a Latin word. It means "loose," "slack," or "unstrung."
Where it Grows
Boronia laxa grows in areas with sandstone rocks. It can be found in heathlands and woodlands. You can find it on Mount Brockman, which is inside Kakadu National Park. It also grows on the nearby Arnhem Plateau.
