Boronia octandra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia octandra |
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| Boronia octandra in the Nuytsland Nature Reserve | |
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium |
The Boronia octandra is a special plant that belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. It is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
It's a small shrub with unique leaves that have three parts. Its flowers are usually greenish cream to reddish brown and have four petals.
Contents
What Does Boronia octandra Look Like?
This boronia is a small shrub that usually grows to about 30 cm (12 in) (about 12 inches) tall. Its young stems are covered with short, soft hairs, making them feel a bit fuzzy.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of Boronia octandra are interesting because they are made of three smaller parts, almost like a tiny clover. Each of these small leaf parts is shaped like a cylinder or a club and is about 5 mm (0.20 in) (less than half an inch) long.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They are usually greenish cream or yellowish brown. Each flower sits on a small stalk, called a pedicel, which is about 2 mm (0.079 in) long.
The flower has four egg-shaped sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These are about 3 mm (0.1 in) long. The four petals are wider and about 8 mm (0.3 in) long. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. They are different lengths, with some being shorter than others. You can usually see these flowers blooming from June to October.
Where Does Boronia octandra Grow?
This type of boronia plant likes to grow in sandy soil. You can find it on rolling plains and in areas where the land breaks away into cliffs or slopes.
It grows in a specific part of Western Australia, between towns like Gnowangerup and the West River. This area includes regions known as the Esperance Plains, Hampton, and Mallee.
How Was Boronia octandra Named?
The Boronia octandra was officially described in 1971. A scientist named Paul Wilson was the first to give it its formal name. He wrote about it in a scientific journal called Nuytsia. He found the first plant specimen he used for the description west of a town called Ravensthorpe.
Is Boronia octandra Endangered?
Good news! The Boronia octandra is not considered to be in danger. The Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) has classified it as "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not at risk of disappearing.
