Salmon correa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salmon correa |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Correa
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| Species: |
pulchella
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The Correa pulchella, also known as the salmon correa, is a beautiful small shrub. It grows only in South Australia. This plant has smooth, tough leaves that are shaped like narrow eggs. Its pretty, bell-shaped flowers hang down and can be pink, red, or orange. They usually grow one by one on short side branches.
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What the Salmon Correa Looks Like
The salmon correa is a shrub that can grow either flat on the ground or stand upright. It usually reaches about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. Its branches are smooth.
The leaves are mostly smooth and grow in pairs opposite each other. They can be narrow and long, or wider and egg-shaped. Each leaf is about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long and 3 to 15 millimeters (0.1 to 0.6 inches) wide. They sit on a small stem called a petiole, which is about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
The flowers grow one at a time on short side branches. They hang down on a thin stalk called a pedicel, which is 5 to 12 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. The green outer part of the flower, called the calyx, is shaped like a wide bowl and is 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is shaped like a cylinder or a funnel. It can be pink, red, or orange, but sometimes it's white. The corolla is 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. The stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, are about the same length as the corolla. This plant mostly blooms from April to September.
How the Salmon Correa Got Its Name
The Correa pulchella was officially described in 1827 by a botanist named Robert Sweet. He wrote about it in his book Flora Australasica. He used notes from another person, John Bain Mackay, who had not yet published his description.
The seeds for this plant were collected on Kangaroo Island by William Baxter. He was sent to Australia by a plant collector named Francis Henchman. John Bain Mackay then grew these seeds in his nursery, called Clapton Nursery.
Growing Salmon Correa in Gardens
Many people think the salmon correa is one of the most beautiful types of Correa plants. It's a great choice for gardens.
This plant likes dry summers and places that don't have too much moisture in the air. It also grows best in soil that drains water well and is a bit alkaline (not acidic). It can be tricky to grow this plant from seeds. However, if you take cuttings from the stems that are partly grown, they usually grow roots easily. The Royal Horticultural Society has even given it their Award of Garden Merit, which means it's an excellent plant for gardens.
Popular Types of Salmon Correa
There are a few special types of salmon correa that gardeners like:
- Little Cate: This plant grew from a seed in a garden. It has bright pink flowers that are easy to see. People think it might be a mix of two different forms of the plant.
- Pink Mist: This type has pale pink flowers. It was found growing wild on the southern part of the Yorke Peninsula.
- Dusky Bells: This is a hybrid plant, meaning it's a mix of Correa pulchella and another plant called Correa reflexa.
