Flame heath facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Flame heath
In Monarto South, Australia
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Astroloma conostephioides (Sond.) F.Muell. ex Benth. Pentataphrus behrii Schltdl. Stenanthera conostephioides Sond. var. conostephioides Stenanthera conostephioides var. glabrata Sond. Stenanthera conostephoides F.Muell. orth. var. Styphelia behrii (Schltdl.) Sleumer Styphelia sonderi F.Muell. nom. illeg.

A flame heath plant growing in Beyeria Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Stenanthera conostephioides, often called flame heath, is a small shrub found only in south-eastern Australia. It has long, narrow leaves, bright red, tube-shaped flowers, and green fruits that turn dark red.

What Does Flame Heath Look Like?

Flame heath is a shrub that can grow from about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) to 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. It can grow straight up or spread out.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the flame heath are thick and shaped like a spear or a narrow line. They are usually between 7 and 21 millimeters long (about 0.3 to 0.8 inches) and have a pointed tip.

The flowers are bright red and hang downwards. They are shaped like a tube, about 6 to 15 millimeters long (about 0.2 to 0.6 inches). At the bottom of each flower, there are small, brownish leaf-like parts called bracts and bracteoles. The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud, are also brownish.

Inside the flower, near the tips of the petals, there are many tiny hairs. The parts that hold pollen, called anthers, stick out from the end of the flower tube. The style, which is part of the female reproductive organ, is about 10 to 19 millimeters long.

Fruit and Flowering Time

The fruit of the flame heath is oval-shaped, about 9 to 11 millimeters long (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches). It starts out green with a bit of maroon color, then turns dark red as it ripens. You can see flame heath plants flowering from March to November.

How Did Flame Heath Get Its Name?

The flame heath was first officially described in 1845 by a scientist named Otto Wilhelm Sonder. He wrote about it in a book called Plantae Preissianae. The plant specimens he studied were collected near Port Adelaide in 1839.

The second part of its scientific name, conostephioides, means that this plant looks similar to another plant in a different group called Conostephium.

Where Does Flame Heath Grow?

Flame heath grows in areas with sandy soil, often in dry, open forests or in a type of shrubland called mallee scrub. It is a common plant in western Victoria and the south-east part of South Australia.

What Eats Flame Heath?

The flowers of the flame heath are an important food source for emus. They enjoy eating these bright red blooms.