Hart's goodenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hart's goodenia |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
hartiana
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Goodenia hartiana, also known as Hart's goodenia, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. This plant is found only in Western Australia.
Hart's goodenia is a plant that can stand up tall or spread out. It lives for many years. It has leaves shaped like a spear or an egg. Its beautiful flowers are blue or purple. After flowering, it produces small, oval-shaped fruits.
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About Hart's Goodenia
Hart's goodenia is a plant that grows up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. Its stems are covered with tiny, sticky hairs. Most of its leaves grow near the bottom of the plant. These leaves are about 6 to 30 millimeters long and 2.5 to 7 millimeters wide.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Hart's goodenia grow in clusters along a stem. These clusters can be up to 125 millimeters (about 5 inches) long. Each flower grows on a short stalk. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the bud, are narrow and egg-shaped. They are about 5.2 to 6 millimeters long.
The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is blue or purple. It measures about 10 to 17 millimeters long. The lower parts of the corolla are about 5 to 6 millimeters long. They have wide, wing-like structures. Hart's goodenia flowers in August and September. After flowering, it forms an oval or cylinder-shaped fruit. This fruit is a capsule, which is a type of seed pod, and can be up to 6 millimeters long.
How it Got its Name
Scientists gave Hart's goodenia its formal name, Goodenia hartiana, in 2006. It was first described by a scientist named Leigh William Sage. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The plant was named after Raymond P. Hart. He was the person who collected the first samples of this plant in 1992. He found them in the Rudall River area. The second part of its name, hartiana, honors him.
Where it Lives
Hart's goodenia grows in sandy areas. You can find it on sand dunes in a few natural regions of Western Australia. These areas include the Little Sandy Desert, the Great Sandy Desert, and the Pilbara region.
Protecting Hart's Goodenia
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants like Hart's goodenia. They have classified it as "Priority Two".
This means that not much is known about this plant. It has only been found in one or a few places. Because of this, it needs special attention to make sure it stays safe and doesn't disappear.
