Goodenia decursiva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia decursiva |
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| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
decursiva
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Goodenia decursiva is a beautiful flowering plant found only in a special part of Western Australia. It's a type of shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. This plant has dense, green leaves that almost hide its stem. It also grows pretty white flowers in tight bunches.
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Meet the Goodenia decursiva!
Goodenia decursiva is a shrub that can grow up to about 1 meter (or 3 feet) tall. It has smooth, hairless stems. Its leaves are shaped like an oval or an egg and have small teeth along their edges. These leaves are quite thick and grow close to the stem, making the plant look very bushy.
What Does It Look Like?
The leaves of Goodenia decursiva are usually between 10 and 35 millimeters long. That's about the length of your thumb! They are also 8 to 12 millimeters wide. The plant's white flowers grow in compact groups. Each flower has a short stalk, and there are long, thin leaf-like parts called bracts at the base of the flower group.
The flowers have five petals that are joined together at the base. These petals are white and measure about 15 to 18 millimeters long. The top parts of the petals are about 8 millimeters long and have small "wings" on their sides, about 2 millimeters wide. This plant usually blooms from September to January. After the flowers, it produces a small, cylinder-shaped fruit called a capsule, which is about 9 millimeters long.
Where Does It Grow?
This special goodenia plant loves sandy soil. You can often find it growing on granite rocks and hills, especially near the ocean. It lives along the southern coast of Western Australia. Its home stretches between two places called Esperance and Israelite Bay. This area is known for its unique plants and landscapes.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The plant Goodenia decursiva was first officially described in 1905. A botanist named William Vincent Fitzgerald gave it its scientific name. He found the plant growing in sandy soil on a granite hill near Esperance. The second part of its name, decursiva, means "decurrent." This word describes how the leaves seem to run down the stem, almost like they are attached along its length.
Is It Safe?
Good news! The Goodenia decursiva is currently considered "not threatened." This means that there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing. The Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia keeps track of plants like this to make sure they stay safe.
