Goodenia cusackiana facts for kids

Goodenia cusackiana is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. It grows only in the north-west part of Western Australia. This plant is an upright herb with a woody stem at its base. It's covered in shiny, silvery hairs. Its leaves are long and narrow, and it has yellow flowers that grow in clusters.

What Does Goodenia cusackiana Look Like?

Goodenia cusackiana is an upright plant that can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) (about 16 inches) tall. It has a tough, woody stem near the ground. The whole plant is covered in many soft, silvery hairs.

Its leaves are long and narrow, shaped like a spear. They are usually 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) (about 1 to 2 inches) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) (less than a quarter inch) wide.

The bright yellow flowers grow in long clusters called racemes, which can be up to 300 mm (12 in) (about 12 inches) long. Each flower sits on a small stalk, or pedicel, that is 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long. The flowers have small, spear-shaped outer leaves called sepals, about 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is yellow and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. The lower parts of the corolla have small "wings" on their sides. This plant usually flowers from July to September.

How Goodenia cusackiana Got Its Name

This plant was first officially described in 1896 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He gave it the name Velleia cusackiana. He found samples of the plant near the Fortescue River in Western Australia. These samples were collected by William Henry Cusack.

Later, in 1990, another scientist named Roger Charles Carolin changed its name to Goodenia cusackiana. This new name was published in a science journal called Telopea.

Where Goodenia cusackiana Grows

This goodenia plant likes to grow in rocky soil. You can find it in the Pilbara and Carnarvon areas of Western Australia. These areas are known for their unique plant life.

Is Goodenia cusackiana Endangered?

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the status of Goodenia cusackiana. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently at risk of disappearing.