Matted bossiaea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matted bossiaea
Scientific classification
Genus:	Bossiaea
Species:	buxifolia
This map shows where the plant grows in Australia.

The Bossiaea buxifolia is a special kind of flowering plant known as the matted bossiaea. It belongs to the pea family, called Fabaceae. This plant usually grows close to the ground, spreading out. However, some types can stand upright, reaching about 1.3 meters (around 4 feet) tall.

Its leaves are small and shaped like an oval or are quite round. They are only about 2 to 5 millimeters long. Each leaf has a very short stem connecting it to the branch.

What it Looks Like

The matted bossiaea has unique flowers. They usually bloom between October and November. The top part of the flower, called the standard, is dark. The side parts, called wings, are bright yellow and orange. The bottom part, known as the keel, has a purplish color.

After the flowers, the plant grows seed pods. These pods are long and narrow, shaped like a rectangle. They are about 20 millimeters (less than an inch) long. These pods hold the seeds for new plants.

Where it Grows

You can find the matted bossiaea growing in different parts of Australia. It lives in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. It often grows in rocky areas or places with lots of bushes.

How it Was Discovered

This plant was first officially described by a botanist named Allan Cunningham. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He found the matted bossiaea growing on "rocky, brushy hills" in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales.

Allan Cunningham wrote about his discovery in 1825. His description was published in a book called Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales. This was how the matted bossiaea became known to the scientific world.