Cambage kunzea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cambage kunzea |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kunzea
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| Species: |
cambagei
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Kunzea cambagei, also known as the Cambage kunzea, is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is only found in a small part of New South Wales, Australia. It's a small shrub with unique egg-shaped leaves. Its flowers are creamy or yellowish and grow in clusters. You can find this plant near Mount Werong in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park and around Berrima.
Contents
What Does it Look Like?
The Cambage kunzea is a small shrub. It usually grows up to about 0.6 meters (2 feet) tall. Its young branches feel soft and hairy.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves grow one after another along the branches. They are shaped like an egg, narrow at the bottom. Each leaf is about 3 to 8 millimeters long and 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide. They have a tiny stalk, about 0.5 millimeters long.
The flowers are cream-colored or yellowish. They grow in round groups of five to thirteen flowers. These groups are found near the ends of the branches. The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is about 3 millimeters long and feels silky-hairy.
The small, triangular parts that protect the flower bud, called sepal lobes, are about 1 millimeter long. The white petals are about 1 to 1.5 millimeters long. Each flower has about 20 to 25 stamens, which are 2 to 3 millimeters long.
When it Flowers
This plant flowers in October and November. After flowering, it produces cup-shaped fruits. These fruits are called capsules. They are about 3 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name for this plant is Kunzea cambagei. It was first officially described in 1913. Two scientists, Joseph Maiden and Ernst Betche, gave it its name. They used a plant sample collected by Richard Hind Cambage. The name cambagei honors him.
Where it Lives
The Cambage kunzea grows in moist, open areas called heathlands. You can find it mainly on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales.
Why it Needs Our Help
The Cambage kunzea is considered "Vulnerable." This means it's at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect it. It's listed as "Vulnerable" under important Australian laws.
Main Dangers
There are a few big threats to this plant:
- Fire: The way fires happen in its habitat can be harmful. Too many fires, or fires at the wrong time, can hurt the plants.
- Habitat Damage: Its home is being damaged by things like roads getting wider. Also, people sometimes dump rubbish in its habitat.
- Trail Bikes: Off-road vehicles like trail bikes can damage the plants and their environment.
Protecting this plant means managing these threats.
