Eremaea brevifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremaea brevifolia |
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| Eremaea brevifolia flower, near the entrance to Lesueur National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremaea (plant)
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| Species: |
brevifolia
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca curtifolia Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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The Eremaea brevifolia is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. You can only find it in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant is a type of shrub that grows upright or spreads out. It has small leaves that grow very close together. In early spring, it shows off beautiful orange flowers. After the flowers, it grows fruits with a rough outside.
What it Looks Like
Eremaea brevifolia is a shrub that can grow upright or spread out. It often has many leaves packed closely together. Sometimes, it can reach a height of about 2.2 metres (7 ft) (about 7 feet).
Its leaves are small, measuring 4.5–7.2 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3.3–5.8 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) wide. They are flat and overlap each other, making the plant look very full. The leaves are shaped like a wide egg, with the narrower end at the bottom. If you look closely, you can see 5 to 9 veins on the underside of each leaf.
The flowers are bright orange and about 8–10 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) across. They usually grow one by one at the end of short branches that grew the year before. Each flower has 5 sepals, which are small leaf-like parts that protect the bud. These sepals are very hairy on the outside. There are also 5 petals, which are the colourful parts of the flower, measuring 3.8–6.8 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) long.
Inside the flower, you'll find stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are grouped into 5 bundles, and each bundle has about 50 to 70 stamens!
Eremaea brevifolia flowers bloom from August to October. After flowering, the plant produces woody fruits called capsules. These capsules are about 7 millimetres (0.3 in) long and shaped like a cup. Their outer surface feels rough or lumpy. The leaves and fruits of this plant are similar to another plant called Eremaea asterocarpa. However, the small leaf-like structures around the flowers of Eremaea brevifolia are hairy.
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Naming the Plant
The scientific name Eremaea brevifolia was first officially described in 1923. This was done by a botanist from the Czech Republic named Karel Domin. Before this, the plant was known as a slightly different type, called Eremaea fimbriata var. brevifolia.
The second part of the plant's name, brevifolia, comes from two Latin words. Brevis means "short," and folium means "a leaf." This name was chosen because this plant has shorter leaves compared to a related plant called Eremaea asterocarpa subsp. asterocarpa.
Where it Lives
You can find Eremaea brevifolia in the Irwin area of Western Australia. It grows in two special natural areas called the Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. This plant likes to grow in sandy soil or on rocky areas called laterite on plains and rock outcrops.
Looking After the Plant
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eremaea brevifolia as "not threatened." This means that currently, there are enough of these plants, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
