Dungowan starbush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dungowan starbush |
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| Asterolasia beckersii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asterolasia
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| Species: |
beckersii
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| Synonyms | |
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Asterolasia sp. 'Dungowan Creek' |
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The Asterolasia beckersii, also known as the Dungowan starbush, is a unique type of shrub. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which includes citrus plants. This special plant grows only in a small area of New South Wales, Australia.
It gets its name "starbush" because its branches and leaves are covered in soft, star-shaped hairs. When it blooms, it has pretty white flowers, and even the back of its petals are fuzzy with these star-like hairs.
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What Does the Dungowan Starbush Look Like?
The Dungowan starbush is an upright shrub. It usually grows to be about 1.5 to 3.5 meters (around 5 to 11.5 feet) tall. Its young branches are covered in soft, fawn-colored (light brownish-yellow) hairs that look like tiny stars.
Its leaves are shaped like an egg or a spear, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. They are about 1.5 to 4 centimeters (0.6 to 1.6 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide. A small stem, called a petiole, connects the leaf to the branch.
The top side of the leaves has a few hairs, but the underside is covered in thick, greenish or fawn-colored star-shaped hairs. The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has a small stalk, called a pedicel, that is 2 to 7 millimeters long.
The petals of the flowers are white and about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. The back of these petals is covered in soft, white, star-shaped hairs. You can usually see this plant flowering in October.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Dungowan starbush was officially described in 2017 by two scientists, Andrew Orme and Marco F. Duretto. They wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea.
They found the first samples of this plant near Dungowan Dam, close to a town called Tamworth, back in 2003. The plant's scientific name, beckersii, was chosen to honor Doug Beckers. He was the person who first discovered this unique species.
Where Does the Dungowan Starbush Live?
The Dungowan starbush is very rare. It is only found in one specific place, which is where it was first discovered. It grows in rocky soil right next to a creek bank. This means it needs a very particular environment to survive.
Why Is It Endangered?
Sadly, the Dungowan starbush is listed as "endangered" by the New South Wales Government. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. This listing is under their Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
There are a few main reasons why this plant is in danger:
- Small Population: There are not many of these plants left in the wild.
- Limited Home: It only grows in a very small area, making it vulnerable.
- Road Work: Maintenance of roads and tracks nearby can harm its habitat.
- Weed Invasion: Other plants, called weeds, can grow in its area and take over its space and resources.
Protecting this special starbush is important so it can continue to be a part of Australia's amazing plant life.
