Water bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Water bush |
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Bossiaea aquifolium , commonly known as water bush or nedik, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. It is endemic to Southwest Australia. The Noongar peoples know the tree as netic.
Description
The tree or bush typically grows to a height of 0.6 to 8 metres (2 to 26 ft) with round holly-like leaves that are sinuate and have nine sharp points or more per leaf. The leaves are opposite and 0.8 to 2.2 centimetres (0.31 to 0.87 in) long with a slightly angular margin. It blooms between July and November and produces orange to yellow and red to brown flowers. The pea-shaped flowers are approximately 20 millimetres (0.8 in) wide and usually bloom en masse. Seeds produced are small and for every one gram there are approximately 70 seeds.
The species was first described by the botanist George Bentham in 1864 in the journal Flora Australiensis.
Habitat
It is found in the Jarrah Forest and Warren IBRA regions in the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia, where it grows in clay or loam soils over laterite or granite. It is a common understorey shrub in forested areas where jarrah and marri trees are found.
Cultivation
It can be grown from seed and prefers a light to medium well-drained moist soil in a semi-protected position. It is drought resistant but susceptible to frost. Hot water treatment or scarification is recommended prior to planting.
There are two recognised subspecies:
- Bossiaea aquifolium subsp. aquifolium
- Bossiaea aquifolium subsp. laidlawiana
