Boronia westringioides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boronia westringioides |
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| Where Boronia westringioides grows (data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium) |
The Boronia westringioides is a special type of shrub that only grows in a small part of Western Australia. It has simple, narrow leaves that sit directly on its stems. Its pretty, pale pink flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem.
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About the Boronia westringioides Plant
This plant is a type of Boronia that stands upright. It usually grows to about 75 centimeters (about 2.5 feet) tall. Its branches reach upwards.
What it Looks Like
The leaves of Boronia westringioides are quite unique. They are narrow and shaped like an oval. Sometimes, a leaf might even have three parts! They are about 5 to 10 millimeters long and don't have a stalk, meaning they attach right to the stem.
The flowers are pale pink and grow one at a time. You'll find them in the "axil" of the upper leaves. This is the spot where a leaf joins the stem. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk, about 1 to 3 millimeters long. At the base of the flowers, there are small, leaf-like parts called bracts, which are about 1.5 millimeters long.
The green parts under the petals, called sepals, are shaped like triangles or eggs. They are about 2 to 3 millimeters long and have tiny bumps called glands. The pink petals are thin and also have glands. They are shaped like ovals and are about 5 to 6 millimeters long. Inside the flower, the stamens (which hold the pollen) also have glands near their tips. This plant blooms from July to October.
How it Got its Name
This Boronia was officially described in 1998 by a scientist named Paul Wilson. He wrote about it in a science magazine called Nuytsia. The first plant he studied was found near the road between Hyden and Norseman.
The second part of its name, westringioides, means it looks similar to some plants in another group called Westringia.
Where it Lives
You can find Boronia westringioides growing in sandy areas with loamy soil. It lives in a small region north of Lake King and east of Hyden, in Western Australia.
Why it Needs Our Help
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Boronia westringioides a special rating called "Priority Two". This means we don't know much about this plant, and it only grows in one or a few places. Because it's so rare and special, it's important to protect its habitat so it can continue to thrive!
