Boronia nematophylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia nematophylla |
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium |
Boronia nematophylla is a special plant that belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. It only grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant is a shrub with thin, simple leaves. It has pretty pale red to purple flowers, each with four petals. These flowers grow alone or in small groups where the leaves meet the stem.
What it Looks Like
Boronia nematophylla is a shrub that can grow between 0.5 m (2 ft) and 2 m (7 ft) tall. It has thin, smooth branches.
Its leaves are very slender and look almost like tiny cylinders. They are about 10 mm (0.4 in) to 30 mm (1 in) long and attach directly to the stem without a stalk.
The flowers are pale red to purple. They grow on short stalks, about 4 mm (0.2 in) long, which get a bit thicker near the flower. Each flower has four small, roundish green parts called sepals, which are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) to 2 mm (0.08 in) long. The four main petals are smooth and about 8 mm (0.3 in) long. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen, and they are covered in soft, woolly hairs.
This plant usually flowers from June to November.
Its Name and History
The plant Boronia nematophylla was first officially described in 1860 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He published his description in a book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.
The second part of its name, nematophylla, comes from two old Greek words. Nema means "thread," and phyllon means "leaf." This name describes its thin, thread-like leaves.
Where it Grows
This type of boronia plant likes to grow in sandy woodlands. You can find it in Western Australia, in areas stretching from Collie to Walpole, and as far east as Esperance. These areas include different natural regions like the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Warren.
How it is Protected
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Boronia nematophylla as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
