Rupp's boronia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rupp's boronia |
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Rupp's boronia (scientific name: Boronia ruppii) is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the citrus family, just like oranges and lemons! This plant is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It grows only in a small part of New South Wales, Australia.
This unique plant has branches covered in tiny hairs. Its leaves can be simple (one blade) or trifoliate (three leaflets). The flowers are a beautiful pink color and have four petals. You can find these flowers growing where the leaves meet the stem. Rupp's boronia is very rare. It only grows near the old Woodsreef asbestos mine.
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What Rupp's Boronia Looks Like
Rupp's boronia is a shrub that can grow from about 0.4 to 2 meters tall. That's roughly the height of a person! Its younger branches are often covered in fine hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are either simple or made of three small leaflets. These leaves and leaflets are shaped like an oval or a spatula. They are usually between 4 and 18 millimeters long. They are also about 3 to 8 millimeters wide. Each leaf has a short stem, called a petiole, which is 1 to 3 millimeters long.
The flowers are a pretty pale to bright pink. They grow either alone or in small groups of up to three. You'll find them in the "axils" of the leaves. An axil is the spot where a leaf joins the stem. Each flower sits on a small stalk, called a pedicel, which is 3 to 8 millimeters long.
The flowers have four sepals. Sepals are like small leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. These sepals are triangular or egg-shaped. They are about 2 to 5 millimeters long and 1 to 3 millimeters wide. The four petals are larger, measuring 6 to 11 millimeters long. They are also about 3 to 4.5 millimeters wide.
Reproduction and Fruit
Inside the flower, there are eight stamens. Stamens are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are different lengths. The ones closer to the sepals are a bit longer than those near the petals.
Rupp's boronia mainly flowers from July to December. After flowering, it produces a fruit. This fruit is a smooth capsule. It is usually 4 to 6 millimeters long and 3 to 3.5 millimeters wide.
How Rupp's Boronia Got Its Name
Rupp's boronia was first officially described in 1928. A scientist named Edwin Cheel wrote about it. He published his description in a scientific journal. The plant was named after Herman Rupp. He was the person who first collected a sample of this plant. The "ruppii" part of its scientific name, Boronia ruppii, honors him.
Where Rupp's Boronia Lives
This special boronia plant grows in dry woodlands. It prefers soils that come from a type of rock called serpentinite. You can only find Boronia ruppii growing around the old Woodsreef asbestos mine. This mine is located near a town called Barraba.
Protecting Rupp's Boronia
Rupp's boronia is considered an "endangered" species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The government of New South Wales lists it as endangered under their Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Threats to the Plant
Several things threaten this unique plant:
- Grazing: Animals like livestock, wild animals, and native animals sometimes eat the plants.
- Fire: Fires that happen too often or at the wrong time can harm the plant's habitat.
- Clearing: People clearing land for other uses can destroy where the plant lives.
- Habitat disturbance: Any changes to its natural home can be harmful.
- Small population: Because there are so few of these plants, they are more vulnerable.
