Common beaked trigger plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common beaked trigger plant |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| S. adnatum print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Stylidium
|
| Species: |
adnatum
|
Stylidium adnatum is also known as the beaked triggerplant. It's a special kind of plant that belongs to a group called Stylidium (part of the Stylidiaceae family). This plant is only found in Australia, mainly in the southwest part of Western Australia.
Contents
What is the Beaked Triggerplant?
The beaked triggerplant is a unique dicotyledonous plant. This means it's a type of flowering plant that has two seed leaves when it first sprouts. It's a scrambling plant with stems that have lots of leaves. It usually grows up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) tall. Its leaves can be up to 3 centimeters long and 5 millimeters wide.
Where Does it Grow?
Stylidium adnatum loves to grow in certain places in Western Australia. You can often find it in jarrah and karri forests. It also grows among the reeds in paperbark swamps. Sometimes, you'll see it in heath areas near streams that flow into the ocean.
Blooming Season
This plant shows off its beautiful flowers in late winter and spring. The flowers are small, only about 3 to 4 millimeters wide. They are white with pretty red stripes.
Is it a Tough Plant?
Yes, the beaked triggerplant is quite tough! It's often found growing along firebreaks in the Porongurup ranges. Firebreaks are cleared paths that help stop fires from spreading. Finding the plant here shows that it can handle being disturbed or having its ground changed.
Can You Grow a Beaked Triggerplant at Home?
Many people are interested in growing Stylidium adnatum. It's known to be quite strong and easy to grow.
How to Grow It
Members of the WA Wildflower Society, a group that loves native plants, have successfully grown this plant. You can even buy it from them in Landsdale. It's easy to start new plants from cuttings. This means you can take a small piece of the plant and grow a whole new one from it!
Growing Indoors
The beaked triggerplant can even grow well as an indoor potted plant. It likes a spot near a window that gets good light, but not direct, strong sunlight all day. It prefers indirect or partial sun.
Why is it a Good Houseplant?
Because it's easy to grow from cuttings and does well indoors, Stylidium adnatum could make a great houseplant. People who like plants that move or react to touch, like Venus flytraps or mimosa plants, might really enjoy the beaked triggerplant.
Different Types of Beaked Triggerplant
There is a known natural variation of Stylidium adnatum.
Stylidium adnatum var. abbreviatum
In 1868, a botanist named Benth. described a variety of this plant called Stylidium adnatum var. abbreviatum. This type is special because it has a short and dense inflorescence. An inflorescence is the way flowers are arranged on a plant's stem. This variety was actually discovered and named twice, but the second name, S. adnatum var. propinquum, is no longer used.
