Goodenia chambersii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia chambersii |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
chambersii
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Goodenia chambersii is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. This plant is only found in South Australia. It is a shrub that grows upwards. It has leaves that look like broad eggs and have small teeth. Its flowers are yellow and grow in clusters. After flowering, it produces oval-shaped fruits.
What it Looks Like
Goodenia chambersii is a shrub that grows up to about 50 centimeters (20 inches) tall. It can feel a bit sticky. Its leaves are shaped like wide eggs or are almost round. They have small teeth along their edges. Each leaf is about 15 to 30 millimeters long (about 0.6 to 1.2 inches). They are also about 10 to 30 millimeters wide. A small stalk, called a petiole, holds each leaf. This stalk can be up to 15 millimeters long.
The yellow flowers grow in long clusters. These clusters can be up to 200 millimeters (about 8 inches) long. Each flower cluster grows on a short stem, called a peduncle, which is 2 to 5 millimeters long. Small, thin leaves called bracteoles are found at the base of each flower. These are about 5 to 7 millimeters long. Each flower also has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 5 to 10 millimeters long.
The green parts that protect the flower bud are called sepals. They are shaped like a spear and are 5 to 6 millimeters long. The yellow petals of the flower are 18 to 25 millimeters long. The lower parts of the petals are about 10 millimeters long. They have small flat edges, called wings, about 1.5 millimeters wide. This plant usually flowers from September to October. After flowering, it produces an oval-shaped fruit. This fruit is a capsule and is about 12 millimeters long.
Plant Name and History
The plant Goodenia chambersii was first officially described in 1859. This was done by a famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. The plant samples he studied were collected by John McDouall Stuart. Stuart was an explorer who found them around 1858. He found them in the mountain ranges west of the Lake Eyre basin.
The second part of the plant's name, chambersii, honors two brothers. They were James and John Chambers. They helped pay for John McDouall Stuart's trips to explore Australia.
Where it Grows
Goodenia chambersii grows in central South Australia. You can find it on rocky hillsides. It also grows near small rivers or streams in the area around the Lake Eyre basin.
