Goodenia heatheriana facts for kids
Goodenia heatheriana is a special kind of flowering plant found only in Western Australia. It's a small plant that spreads out and lives for about a year. This plant has yellow flowers and leaves shaped like a narrow egg.
Quick facts for kids Hart's goodenia |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
heatheriana
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What it Looks Like
Goodenia heatheriana is a small plant that spreads out. It usually grows to about 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) tall. Most of its leaves grow near the bottom of the plant. These leaves are shaped like a narrow egg and can be 4 to 21 millimeters long and 2 to 10 millimeters wide. Sometimes, the leaves have small lobes or bumps.
The bright yellow flowers grow in clusters called racemes, which can be up to 70 millimeters long. Each flower usually grows alone on a stalk called a pedicel, which is 13 to 42 millimeters long. Near the flowers, there are small, leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are 7 to 10 millimeters long.
The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are about 2 millimeters long. The petals, all together called the corolla, are yellow and about 10 millimeters long. The bottom parts of the petals are about 3.5 millimeters long and have small wings about 1.5 millimeters wide. This plant usually flowers in late September and October. After flowering, it produces an oval-shaped seed pod, called a capsule, which is about 1 millimeter long.
How it Got its Name
This plant was first officially described in the year 2000. A scientist named Leigh William Sage wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. He found the first samples of the plant in the Parker Range in 1994.
The second part of the plant's scientific name, heatheriana, was chosen to honor Heather Sage. She is the wife of the scientist who first described the plant.
Where it Lives
Goodenia heatheriana grows in a special type of forest. This forest has low, open eucalypt trees. You can find this plant near a place called Marvel Loch in the Coolgardie area of Western Australia. This area is part of a larger region known for its unique plants and animals.
Keeping it Safe
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Goodenia heatheriana a special classification. It is listed as "Priority One".
This means the plant is known from only a few places. These places might be at risk, so the plant needs special protection to make sure it doesn't disappear. Protecting these rare plants helps keep our natural world healthy and diverse.
