Club-leaved phebalium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Club-leaved phebalium |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phebalium
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| Species: |
obcordatum
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The Phebalium obcordatum, also known as the club-leaved phebalium, is a type of shrub. This plant is special because it is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. This means it grows naturally only in that area.
The club-leaved phebalium has smooth branches. Its leaves are small and shaped like an egg or a heart. The narrower part of the leaf is at its base. It also has small groups of pale yellow flowers. These flowers have shiny, silvery scales on the back of their petals.
Contents
What Does the Club-Leaved Phebalium Look Like?
The club-leaved phebalium is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.7 to 1.3 metres (2 to 4 feet) tall. It has smooth, thin branches.
Leaves and Their Special Features
The leaves of this plant are shaped like an egg or a heart. They are small, about 2 to 3.5 millimetres (0.08 to 0.14 inches) long. They are also about 1.5 to 2.5 millimetres (0.06 to 0.10 inches) wide. The top surface of the leaves feels bumpy, like it has small warts. The bottom surface is covered with many shiny, silvery scales.
Flowers and When They Bloom
The flowers are a pale yellow colour. They grow in small clusters called umbels. These clusters are found at the ends of the branches and on short side branches. Each flower sits on a small stalk about 2 to 3 millimetres (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long.
The flower has small leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals join together to form a cup-like structure. This cup is about 0.5 to 1 millimetre (0.02 to 0.04 inches) long. It is covered with silvery or rust-coloured scales on the outside. The petals are oval-shaped. They are about 2.5 millimetres (0.10 inches) long and 1.5 millimetres (0.06 inches) wide. The back of the petals also has scales. This plant usually flowers from late winter to early spring.
How Was This Plant Named?
The club-leaved phebalium was first officially described in 1863. This was done by a botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in a book called Flora Australiensis. He used plant samples collected by another botanist, Allan Cunningham.
Where Does the Club-Leaved Phebalium Grow?
This shrub grows in woodland areas. You can find it in hilly parts of central New South Wales. It grows south from towns like Trundle and Cobar.
