Cheiranthera alternifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Finger-flower |
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| Cheiranthera alternifolia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cheiranthera
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| Species: |
alternifolia
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The finger-flower (scientific name: Cheiranthera alternifolia) is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the Pittosporaceae family. This small shrub has lovely deep bluish-purple flowers. Its flowers also have bright yellow parts called stamens. The leaves are a dull green and shaped like thin lines. You can find the finger-flower growing in South Australia.
What it Looks Like
The finger-flower is a small shrub that grows close to the ground. It can reach about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. Its stems are smooth. The leaves are long and narrow, usually between 7 and 60 millimeters (about 0.3 to 2.4 inches) long. They are arranged one after another along the stems.
The flowers can grow alone or in small groups of up to 11. Each flower has five yellow stamens. These are the parts that hold pollen. The petals are usually a pale to deep bluish-purple color. They are shaped like a spearhead. After flowering, the plant produces fruit capsules. These are somewhat egg-shaped and flat. Finger-flowers bloom from October to November.
How it Got its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1978. A botanist named Eleanor Marion Bennett gave it its scientific name. The second part of its name, alternifolia, comes from two Latin words. Alternus means "alternate" and -folius means "leaved". This describes how its leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.
Where it Grows
The finger-flower is a common plant that is only found in certain places. It is endemic to southern parts of South Australia. You can see it from the southern Eyre Peninsula all the way to the south-east. It also grows on Kangaroo Island. This plant used to grow in Victoria, but it is now thought to be extinct there.
