Goodenia gloeophylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia gloeophylla |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
gloeophylla
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Goodenia gloeophylla is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Goodeniaceae plant family. This plant is special because it grows only in northern Australia, meaning it is endemic there.
It is a small, upright plant that is a bit woody. It has long, narrow leaves that can be toothed or slightly lobed. Its flowers are a beautiful pale to deep purple and grow in clusters.
What it Looks Like
Goodenia gloeophylla is an upright plant that is slightly woody. It usually grows to about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. The plant can feel a little sticky to the touch.
Its leaves grow on the stem. They are long and narrow, shaped like a line or a thin oval. These leaves are typically 4 to 8 centimeters (about 1.5 to 3 inches) long and 1 to 2.5 millimeters wide. They often have small teeth or narrow cuts along their edges.
The flowers grow in long clusters called racemes, which can be up to 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. Each flower sits on a small stalk, 2 to 4 millimeters long. At the base of these stalks are tiny, leaf-like parts.
The flowers themselves are pale to deep purple. They are about 10 to 12 millimeters (less than half an inch) long. The lower parts of the flower petals are about 5 to 6 millimeters long. They have small, thin "wings" about 1 millimeter wide.
This plant mostly flowers from April to May. After flowering, it produces a fruit that looks like a cylinder. This fruit is a capsule, about 8 to 10 millimeters long.
Plant Name and History
The plant Goodenia gloeophylla 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 information came from a plant sample collected in 1971. This sample was found by David Eric Symon near Kalumburu.
The second part of its name, gloeophylla, has a special meaning. It comes from words that mean "sticky-leaved." This refers to the slightly sticky feel of the plant's leaves.
Where it Grows
This goodenia plant likes to grow in sandy soil. You can find it in areas with heath and scrubland. It lives in the northern part of the Kimberley region in Western Australia. It also grows in the northern part of the Northern Territory.
How it is Protected
Goodenia gloeophylla is listed as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government. This means it is a plant that needs special attention. It is not very well known, and it has only been found in one or a few places. Because of this, efforts are made to protect it.
