Goodenia durackiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia durackiana |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
durackiana
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Goodenia durackiana is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. This plant is found only in a specific part of north-western Australia. It grows as a herb, meaning it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. It has leaves with rough edges and pretty yellow flowers that grow in clusters.
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About Goodenia durackiana
What Does It Look Like?
Goodenia durackiana is a plant that can stand upright or spread low to the ground. It usually grows to about 50 centimeters (20 inches) tall. Its leaves are mostly found along the stem. They are shaped like an oval or a long rectangle. Each leaf is about 3 to 6 centimeters (1 to 2.5 inches) long and 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) wide. The edges of the leaves have rough, tooth-like bumps.
The flowers grow in long clusters called racemes, which can be up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) long. At the bottom of each flower cluster, there are small, leaf-like parts called bracts. Each flower sits on a short stalk called a pedicel, which is about 2 to 5 millimeters long.
The green parts that protect the flower bud, called sepals, are narrow and about 7 millimeters long. The yellow petals, which form the corolla, are about 15 millimeters long. The lower parts of the corolla are about 5 millimeters long and have small, thin edges called wings, which are about 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
This plant usually flowers between March and May. After flowering, it produces a round fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 8 to 10 millimeters across and holds the plant's seeds.
How It Was Named
The plant Goodenia durackiana was officially described in 1990. This was done by a scientist named Roger Charles Carolin. He wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. The plant was first found by Michael Lazarides in 1963 at the Kimberley Research Station.
The second part of its name, durackiana, was chosen to honor Kim Durack. Kim Durack was another person who collected samples of this plant back in 1945.
Where Does It Grow?
This goodenia plant likes to grow in grasslands. It prefers black, cracking soils. You can find it in the north-eastern Kimberley region of Western Australia. It also grows in the north-western part of the Northern Territory.
Is It Protected?
Goodenia durackiana is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means that the plant is only known to grow in a few places. Because of this, it could be at risk of disappearing. Efforts are made to protect these special locations.
