Goodenia goodeniacea facts for kids

Goodenia goodeniacea is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. This plant is special because it is endemic to Australia. This means it only grows naturally in northern, inland parts of the country. It's a low-growing plant, meaning it spreads out along the ground. It has leaves with jagged edges and pretty yellow flowers that have purple lines.

What it Looks Like

Goodenia goodeniacea is a plant that grows flat on the ground. Its stems can reach up to 50 cm (20 in) (about 20 inches) long. The leaves at the bottom of the plant are shaped like an oval or an egg. They are about 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) (2 to 2.5 inches) long and 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) (1 to 1.5 inches) wide. These leaves have edges that look like they have small teeth. The leaves growing on the stem are similar but smaller.

The flowers grow in clusters called thyrses. These clusters can be up to 400 mm (16 in) (about 16 inches) long. Each flower cluster grows on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. At the bottom of these stalks are small, leaf-like parts called bracts.

Each individual flower sits on a smaller stalk called a pedicel, which is 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. There are also tiny, thin bracteoles (small bracts) up to 2 mm (0.079 in) long near the flowers. The green parts that protect the flower bud, called sepals, are about 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The main part of the flower, the corolla, is yellow with purplish lines. It is about 13–15 mm (0.51–0.59 in) (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. The lower parts of the flower petals are 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and have thin edges called wings, about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide.

This plant usually flowers from May to August. After flowering, it produces a round fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 10 mm (0.39 in) (0.4 inches) across.

How it Got its Name

This plant was first officially described in 1859. A botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Scaevola goodeniacea. He wrote about it in a scientific book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.

Later, in 1990, another botanist named Roger Charles Carolin changed the plant's name. He moved it to the Goodenia group, so its new name became Goodenia goodeniacea. He published this change in a science journal called Telopea.

Where it Grows

This goodenia plant grows in different places across northern Australia. You can find it on flat areas called plains and on sand dunes. It grows in small, spread-out groups. You can see it between Tennant Creek and Sturt Creek in the Northern Territory. It also grows in parts of Queensland.

Is it Protected?

Goodenia goodeniacea is currently classified as a species of "least concern." This means that, right now, there are plenty of these plants, and they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing. This classification is given by the Queensland Government under their Nature Conservation Act 1992 and by the Northern Territory Government under their Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.