Forest raspwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forest raspwort |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gonocarpus
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| Species: |
teucrioides
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| Synonyms | |
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Haloragis aenea Schindl. |
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The Gonocarpus teucrioides, often called forest raspwort, is a common flowering plant. It is a type of herb or small shrub that belongs to the Haloragaceae family. This family is also known as the watermilfoil family.
You can find the forest raspwort growing naturally in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. It is very common in the understorey (the layer of plants growing under the main tree canopy) of wet forests. The name "raspwort" comes from the rough, scratchy feel of many plants in the Gonocarpus group.
The second part of its scientific name, teucrioides, means it looks like plants from the Teucrium genus. The "oides" part is a Greek word that means "resembling" or "like".
What Does Forest Raspwort Look Like?
This plant stands upright and can grow to be about 30–40 cm tall and 20–30 cm wide. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. The base of the plant is woody.
Its stems have four distinct sides. The leaves grow in pairs opposite each other on the stem. They are oval-shaped with jagged edges and are 7–22 mm long. The top of the leaves is dark green, while the underside is lighter. The stems often have a reddish color. Both the leaves and stems are covered in stiff, spreading hairs.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers are small and grow alone in pairs of bracts (small leaf-like structures). These pairs are found where the leaves meet the stem. More flowers grow in clusters called racemes at the very end of the stem. The bracts are green and fleshy, and the petals can be green or reddish.
Forest raspwort plants are monoecious. This means each plant has both male and female flowers. They usually bloom from October to January. After flowering, the plant produces a small, oval-shaped fruit. This fruit is a silver-grey nut with ridges, and it is about 1.5 mm long.
Where Does Forest Raspwort Grow?
Gonocarpus teucrioides is native to parts of Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. It prefers places with moist, well-drained soil and some shade.
Because of these preferences, it is often found in the understorey of open or partly open forests. It especially likes areas that get extra water from runoff or have higher rainfall.
