Boronia prolixa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia prolixa |
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium |
Boronia prolixa is a special type of plant that belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. It's found only in a small part of the Northern Territory, Australia. This plant is a low-lying shrub, meaning it doesn't grow very tall. Its branches, leaves, and even parts of its flowers are covered in tiny hairs. It has simple leaves and pretty white to pink flowers. The sepals (which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud) are longer and wider than the petals (the colorful parts of the flower).
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What Does Boronia prolixa Look Like?
Boronia prolixa is a shrub that grows close to the ground. Its branches can reach about 50 cm (20 in) long. You'll notice that its branches, leaves, and some parts of its flowers are covered with tiny hairs that look like stars.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are shaped like a spear or an egg. They are usually 4.5–32 mm (0.18–1.3 in) long and 2.5–16 mm (0.1–0.6 in) wide. Some leaves attach directly to the stem, while others have a very short stalk, or petiole, up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long.
The flowers grow on a small stalk called a pedicel, which is about 6–21 mm (0.2–0.8 in) long. The sepals, which are the leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud, are white to pink. They are shaped like an egg or a triangle, measuring 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide. The colorful petals are a bit smaller, about 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide. As the plant's fruit starts to grow, both the sepals and petals get bigger. You can usually see Boronia prolixa flowering from February to June.
How Was Boronia prolixa Named?
The plant Boronia prolixa was first officially described in 1997. This description was made by a scientist named Marco F. Duretto. He published his findings in a scientific journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, prolixa, comes from a Latin word. It means "stretched out" or "long." This likely refers to how the plant's branches grow.
Where Does Boronia prolixa Live?
Boronia prolixa grows in a specific type of environment. You can find it in areas with sandstone heath and woodland. These places are located on the north-western Arnhem Plateau in Australia.
