Goodenia expansa facts for kids

Goodenia expansa is a unique flowering plant that belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. It grows only in Queensland, Australia. This plant is usually an annual (meaning it lives for one year) or a short-lived perennial (living for a few years). It's a herb with long, narrow leaves at its base. Its pretty flowers are pale yellow or cream-coloured and grow in leafy clusters.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Goodenia expansa is a low-growing plant that spreads out up to 1 metre wide. It's covered in soft, white hairs. The leaves grow from the bottom of the plant. They are shaped like a narrow oval or a spear, getting thinner towards the base. These leaves are about 50 to 80 millimetres long and 5 to 20 millimetres wide. Their edges are slightly toothed, and they sit on a leaf stalk (called a petiole) that is 20 to 40 millimetres long.

The flowers grow in long, leafy clusters called racemes, which can be up to 60 centimetres long. Each flower has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, which is 6 to 35 millimetres long. The green parts that protect the flower bud, called sepals, are thin and about 6 to 12 millimetres long. The actual flower petals are yellow or cream and measure 15 to 20 millimetres long. The lower parts of the petals are 6 to 8 millimetres long and have small "wings" about 1.5 to 2.2 millimetres wide.

This plant blooms in spring. After flowering, it produces a fruit that looks like an oval-shaped capsule. This capsule is 8 to 13 millimetres long and 4 to 6 millimetres wide.

Naming and Discovery

The scientific name Goodenia expansa was officially given to this plant in 2002. It was described by two scientists, Ailsa E. Holland and T.P. Boyle. They published their findings in a science journal called Austrobaileya. They studied samples of the plant collected from a place called Cuddapan Station.

The second part of the plant's name, expansa, is a Latin word. It means "spreading out," which perfectly describes how this plant grows low and wide.

Where Does It Grow?

You can find Goodenia expansa growing in sandy areas in central Queensland, near a town called Winton. It often grows alongside a type of eucalyptus tree called Corymbia terminalis and different kinds of Triodia grasses.

Protecting This Plant

The good news is that Goodenia expansa is currently listed as a plant of "least concern." This means it's not considered to be in danger of disappearing. The Queensland Government protects it under their Nature Conservation Act 1992, which helps keep native plants and animals safe.