Common smokebush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common smokebush |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Conospermum
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| Species: |
stoechadis
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The common smokebush (Conospermum stoechadis) is a special kind of shrub that grows only in Western Australia. It gets its name because its flowers can look a bit like smoke.
Contents
What Does the Common Smokebush Look Like?
The common smokebush is a shrub that grows upright and has many stems. It can reach a height of about 0.3 to 2 meters (1 to 6.5 feet). It has a special woody base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after things like bushfires.
Its leaves are long and thin, like needles. They can be anywhere from 2 to 17 centimeters (about 1 to 7 inches) long and are quite narrow. The plant produces beautiful white or grey flowers that grow in clusters called panicles.
How Scientists Name and Classify Plants
Scientists give plants special names to help everyone know exactly which plant they are talking about. This is called taxonomy. The common smokebush was first described in 1838 by a scientist named Stephan Endlicher. He studied plants that were collected near King George Sound.
Over time, other scientists sometimes thought they had found new types of smokebush. For example, in 1839, John Lindley thought he found a new species, but it was later found to be a subspecies of the common smokebush. Other scientists like Carl Meissner and Michel Gandoger also named plants that were later found to be the same as the common smokebush.
Today, scientists agree that there are two main types, or subspecies, of the common smokebush:
- C. stoechadis subsp. sclerophyllum
- C. stoechadis subsp. stoechadis
Where Does the Common Smokebush Grow?
This plant grows in sandy areas and on a type of soil called laterite. You can find it across the Southwest Botanic Province of Western Australia. It also grows further east, as far as a town called Southern Cross.
Is the Common Smokebush in Danger?
No, the common smokebush is not considered to be a threatened plant. It is doing well in its natural habitat.
