Gastrolobium melanopetalum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gastrolobium melanopetalum |
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G. melanopetalum
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| Gastrolobium melanopetalum (F.Muell.) G.Chandler & Crisp
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The Gastrolobium melanopetalum is a beautiful shrub that belongs to the Fabaceae family, also known as the pea family. This plant is special because it is endemic to the south-west region of Western Australia. This means it naturally grows only in this specific part of the world and nowhere else!
What Does It Look Like?
The Gastrolobium melanopetalum is a shrub that can grow quite tall, reaching up to 3 metres (about 10 feet) in height. Its leaves are narrow and oval-shaped, usually between 1.4 to 6 centimetres long and 0.4 to 2 centimetres wide.
One of the most striking features of this plant is its unique flowers. They are a distinctive purple-black colour and hang downwards, like little bells. These amazing pea-flowers bloom from early spring to early summer, which in Australia means from September to December. Imagine seeing these dark, beautiful flowers in the wild!
How Was It Named?
The Gastrolobium melanopetalum has an interesting history behind its name. It was first officially described in 1864 by a famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book, Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
When he first described it, he gave it the name Brachysema melanopetalum. The second part of the name, melanopetalum, comes from two ancient Greek words: melanos, which means black, and petalon, which means petal. This name perfectly describes its dark-coloured flowers! Later, in 1995, another botanist named Michael Crisp moved this species into the Gastrolobium group, along with several other plants that were once called Brachysema.
Where Does It Grow?
You can usually find the Gastrolobium melanopetalum growing in dense groups, often close to streams or freshwater swamps. It likes places where there is plenty of water. This shrub grows south of the city of Perth in Western Australia. Its natural home is between the Darling Scarp, which is a low mountain range, and the Blackwood River.
