Bossiaea decumbens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bossiaea decumbens |
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| Bossiaea decumbens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bossiaea
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| Species: |
decumbens
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Bossiaea decumbens is a special kind of plant that grows low to the ground. It's a shrub, which is like a small bush. This plant belongs to the pea family, also known as Fabaceae. You can only find it naturally in Victoria, Australia. It has leaves that change shape and pretty yellow flowers with red spots. These flowers bloom from spring all the way to late summer.
What Does Bossiaea decumbens Look Like?
Bossiaea decumbens is a shrub that spreads out and grows close to the ground. It usually reaches about 30 cm (12 in) tall. Sometimes, it can even form a thick, mat-like cover on the ground.
Its stems look like needles and have a few flat or spreading hairs. The leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They can be oval, egg-shaped, or wide. Each leaf is about 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long and 1.5–4 mm (0.059–0.157 in) wide. Sometimes, the base of the leaf is shaped like a heart. The top and bottom sides of the leaves are different shades of green.
The underside of the leaf is smooth, and you can usually see the veins clearly. The edges of the leaves are curved. Each leaf sits on a short stalk called a petiole. There are also small, triangular leaf-like parts called stipules. These are thin and much longer than the petiole.
The flowers are single and measure about 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. They often grow in groups at the ends of short side branches. The flower stalks, called pedicels, are 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) long. Small leaf-like parts called bracts are up to 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. Even smaller ones, called bracteoles, are 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. These stay on the plant even after the flower is fully grown.
The flowers are yellow with a splash of red. The lower petals are smaller than the upper ones. These upper parts are 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long. They are a bit longer than the 6 mm (0.24 in) long keel or wings of the flower. After flowering, the plant produces narrow, oblong seed pods. These pods are about 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) long. You can see this plant flowering from September to February.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The plant Bossiaea decumbens was first officially described in 1858. This was done by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He published his description in a book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
The second part of its name, decumbens, comes from a Latin word. It means "prostrate," which describes how the plant grows low and spreads along the ground.
Where Does Bossiaea decumbens Live?
You can find Bossiaea decumbens in the higher areas of Victoria, Australia. It grows in many different places. These include woodlands, heathlands, sclerophyll forests (which have tough-leaved trees), and grasslands.
