Calytrix merrelliana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calytrix merrelliana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calytrix
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| Species: |
merrelliana
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The Calytrix merrelliana is a special type of plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, which includes many well-known plants like eucalyptus. This plant is endemic to Western Australia. This means it grows naturally only in Western Australia and nowhere else in the world!
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About the Merrell's Starflower
This plant is often called Merrell's Starflower because of its pretty, star-shaped flowers. It's a small, spreading shrub.
What it Looks Like
The Merrell's Starflower usually grows to be about 0.1 to 0.25 meters (or 4 to 10 inches) tall. That's about the height of a small bush! It has lovely purple-violet flowers that look like tiny stars. These flowers usually bloom during the warmer months, from October to January.
Where it Grows
You can find this unique plant in a specific part of Western Australia. It grows in the area where the Wheatbelt meets the Goldfields-Esperance region. This area is between the towns of Kondinin and Coolgardie. It prefers to grow in sandy soils, which are common in this part of Australia.
How it Got its Name
The Merrell's Starflower has an interesting history of how it got its scientific name.
First Discovery
It was first officially described in 1896 by two botanists, Ferdinand von Mueller and R. Tate. They first called it Lhotzkya violacea var. merrelliana.
New Classification
Later, in 1987, another botanist named Lyndley Craven studied the plant again. He decided it belonged in a different group, or genus, called Calytrix. That's how it got its current name, Calytrix merrelliana.
