Goodenia eatoniana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia eatoniana |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodenia
|
| Species: |
eatoniana
|
Goodenia eatoniana is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. It grows only in the very south-west part of Western Australia, meaning it is endemic to that area. This plant is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems instead of woody ones. It has special lance-shaped leaves at its base and blue flowers that grow in clusters called racemes.
Contents
What Does Goodenia eatoniana Look Like?
Goodenia eatoniana is a plant that grows upright, like a small shrub. It usually reaches a height of about 10 to 30 centimeters (about 4 to 12 inches). Its leaves are often a bit bluish-green (this is called glaucous) and smooth, without any hairs (this is called glabrous).
Leaves and Stems
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are shaped like a spear, wider at the base and narrowing towards the tip. They can be from 10 to 50 millimeters (about 0.4 to 2 inches) long and up to 50 millimeters wide. Sometimes, these leaves have small teeth along their edges. The leaves growing on the stem are smaller and egg-shaped. They also wrap around the stem.
Flowers and Fruit
The blue flowers grow in long clusters called racemes, which can be up to 200 millimeters (about 8 inches) long. Each flower cluster grows on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 10 to 20 millimeters long. At the base of each flower stalk, there are small, leaf-like parts called bracts, about 1 to 2 millimeters long.
The green parts that protect the flower bud are called sepals, and they are shaped like a spear, about 4 millimeters long. The blue petals, all together, form the corolla, which is about 14 to 18 millimeters long. The lower parts of the corolla are about 10 to 11 millimeters long and have thin, flat edges called wings, about 2 to 2.5 millimeters wide.
This plant usually flowers from October to January. After flowering, it produces a round fruit called a capsule, which is about 3 millimeters across. This capsule holds the seeds.
How Goodenia eatoniana Got Its Name
The plant Goodenia eatoniana was first officially described in 1874. This was done by a famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
Later, in 1990, another scientist named Roger Charles Carolin chose specific plant samples as the main example for this species. These samples were likely collected by John Forrest near the Blackwood River. The second part of the plant's name, eatoniana, was chosen to honor Henry Francis Eaton (1831–1912). He was a person who supported scientific work in Victoria, Australia.
Where Goodenia eatoniana Grows
This type of goodenia plant likes to grow in areas that are wet during winter. You can find it in flat lands and along drainage lines. It lives in the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren biogeographic regions. These areas are all located in the very south-west part of Western Australia.
Is Goodenia eatoniana Endangered?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the status of Goodenia eatoniana. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that currently, there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not at risk of disappearing.
