Serrated goodenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Serrated goodenia |
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| Goodenia heterochila in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park | |
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Goodenia
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| Species: |
heterochila
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The Goodenia heterochila, often called the serrated goodenia, is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. This plant grows only in the dry, desert-like parts of Australia. It's a type of perennial herb, which means it's a plant that lives for more than two years and has soft stems, not woody ones. It has yellow flowers with a brownish middle.
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What Does the Serrated Goodenia Look Like?
The serrated goodenia is a plant that stands upright or grows upwards. It can reach about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. Most of its leaves grow on the stems. These leaves are shaped like an egg or a spear, with the narrower part at the bottom. They are usually between 10 and 50 millimeters (about 0.4 to 2 inches) long. The leaves are also 4 to 14 millimeters (about 0.15 to 0.55 inches) wide. They have small teeth along their edges.
The flowers grow in clusters called racemes. These clusters can be up to 200 millimeters (about 8 inches) long. Small, leaf-like parts called bracts are found near the flowers. Each flower sits on a short stalk called a pedicel, which is about 5 to 10 millimeters long.
The plant has small, linear-shaped sepals, which are like tiny leaves that protect the flower bud. They are about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long. The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is yellow with a brownish center. It measures about 8 to 12 millimeters long. The lower parts of the corolla are about 4 to 5 millimeters long. They have small, flat extensions called wings, which are about 1.5 millimeters wide.
You can see this plant flowering almost all year round. After flowering, it produces a round fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 5 millimeters across.
How Did the Serrated Goodenia Get Its Name?
The serrated goodenia was first officially described in 1863. A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller wrote about it. He found specimens, or samples, of the plant. These samples were collected by Frederick George Waterhouse during an expedition led by John McDouall Stuart in 1862.
The second part of its scientific name, heterochila, means "unequal-edged." This name refers to the way the lower parts of the flower (the corolla lobes) are shaped.
Where Does This Plant Live?
This type of goodenia plant likes to grow in sandy soil. You can find it in the dry, desert-like areas of Australia. It lives in several different states and territories. These include the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Is the Serrated Goodenia Protected?
Good news! The serrated goodenia is not considered to be in danger. The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says it is "not threatened." This means there are plenty of these plants around.
The Northern Territory Government also lists it as being of "least concern." This is under their Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976. The Queensland Government also agrees, listing it as "least concern" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means the plant is not at risk of disappearing.
