Dasymalla glutinosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dasymalla glutinosa |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Dasymalla
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Species: |
glutinosa
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Synonyms | |
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Dasymalla glutinosa is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family, which is called Lamiaceae. This plant grows only in Western Australia. It is a sticky shrub that spreads out. It has smooth branches and egg-shaped leaves without stalks. Its flowers are small, white or cream, and shaped like tubes.
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What Does Dasymalla glutinosa Look Like?
Dasymalla glutinosa is a shrub that spreads out. It can grow to be about 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) tall. Its branches and leaves are sticky but smooth.
Leaves of the Plant
The leaves grow in pairs opposite each other. They are oblong or egg-shaped. Each leaf is about 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They are also about 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) wide. The end of each leaf is blunt, meaning it's not pointy.
Flowers of Dasymalla glutinosa
The flowers are white or cream in color. They grow one by one where a leaf joins the stem. Each flower has a sticky stalk that is 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches) long.
Small, leafy parts called bracts surround the flowers. These bracts are about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. The flower has five sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and sticky. They are joined together to form a short tube.
The five petals of the flower are also joined. They form a tube that is 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. This tube is mostly smooth. Inside the tube, there is a ring of dense hairs. At the end of the petal tube, there are five rounded parts called lobes. The bottom lobe is slightly larger and more egg-shaped than the other four.
How Dasymalla glutinosa Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1979. A scientist named Ahmad Abid Munir gave it the name Pityrodia glutinosa. He wrote about it in a science journal.
Later, in 2011, other scientists changed its name. Barry Conn, Murray Henwood, and Nicola Streiber moved it to a different group of plants. This new group is called Dasymalla. So, the plant's full name became Dasymalla glutinosa. The second part of its name, glutinosa, is a Latin word. It means "sticky" or "viscous," which describes the plant well.
Where Does Dasymalla glutinosa Live?
Dasymalla glutinosa grows in Western Australia. You can find it between the Murchison River and Shark Bay. It lives in areas like Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains, and Yalgoo.
This plant prefers to grow in sand. It can be found on sandplains and sand dunes. It also grows in woodlands.
How Is Dasymalla glutinosa Protected?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of this plant. They classify Dasymalla glutinosa as "Priority Three".
This means that we don't know a lot about this plant yet. It is found in only a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. Scientists continue to monitor its populations.