Boronia tetragona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia tetragona |
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Boronia tetragona is a special plant that belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. You can only find it in a small part of southwest Western Australia. This plant is a tall, smooth, perennial herb. It has simple leaves and pretty pink flowers that have four petals.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Boronia tetragona is a tall, smooth plant. It can grow up to 70 cm (28 in) high. Its stems are shaped like a square. Each corner has a smooth, sharp edge.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves are attached directly to the stem. They are oval or triangle-shaped. They can be up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long. Their edges feel a bit bumpy.
The flowers grow in small groups at the ends of the branches. Each flower has a thin stalk up to 10 mm (0.39 in) long. At the base of the flowers are smooth, dark red leaf-like parts called bracts.
The four outer parts of the flower, called sepals, are dark red and about 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The four pink petals are egg-shaped. They are about 7 mm (0.3 in) long. Each petal has a darker line down the middle and a rounded tip. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens. These parts have small, bumpy glands near their tips. This plant usually flowers from October to December.
How It Got Its Name
Naming the Boronia
The plant Boronia tetragona was officially named in 1998. Paul Wilson first described it. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant was found near Busselton by Gregory John Keighery.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its name, tetragona, comes from Greek words. "Tetra" means "four" and "gona" means "angle". This name describes the plant's four-sided stems.
Where It Grows
Habitat and Location
This type of boronia grows in open woodlands. Sometimes you can find it with sedges, which are grass-like plants. It grows between the towns of Capel and the Whicher Range. These areas are part of the Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain regions in Western Australia.
Protecting This Plant
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Boronia tetragona a special rating. It is called "Priority Three". This means that not much is known about the plant. It is found in only a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
