Goodenia hirsuta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia hirsuta |
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| Near Hughenden | |
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| Genus: |
Goodenia
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| Species: |
hirsuta
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Goodenia hirsuta is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Goodeniaceae family. It grows only in northern Australia, which means it is endemic to that area. This plant is a hairy, low-growing perennial herb. It has long-lasting stems that spread out or stay close to the ground. Its leaves are narrow and egg-shaped, found mostly at the bottom of the plant. The plant produces hairy yellow flowers that grow in clusters called racemes. After flowering, it forms oval-shaped fruits.
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What Goodenia hirsuta Looks Like
Goodenia hirsuta is a hairy plant that grows low to the ground. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and does not have woody stems. Its stems can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long.
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are hairy and shaped like a narrow egg, with the narrower part closer to the stem. These leaves are usually 4 to 10 centimeters (about 1.5 to 4 inches) long and 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters (about 0.6 to 1.4 inches) wide. They have rough, jagged edges.
The flowers grow in clusters called racemes, which can be up to 30 millimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. Each flower has small, leaf-like parts called bracts near its base. The individual flowers are on stalks called pedicels, which are 2 to 4 centimeters (about 0.8 to 1.6 inches) long.
The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud, are narrow and shaped like a spear. They are about 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters (about 0.14 to 0.18 inches) long. The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is yellow and hairy. It is about 14 to 15 millimeters (about 0.55 to 0.6 inches) long. The lower parts of the corolla are 4 to 5 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.2 inches) long and have small "wings" that are 0.5 to 1 millimeter (about 0.02 to 0.04 inches) wide.
Goodenia hirsuta usually flowers from July to October. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit that is an oval-shaped capsule. This capsule is about 8 millimeters (about 0.3 inches) long and 4 millimeters (about 0.16 inches) wide.
How Goodenia hirsuta Got Its Name
The plant Goodenia hirsuta was first officially described in 1862 by a scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
The second part of its scientific name, hirsuta, is a Latin word. It means "hairy" or "with long, shaggy hairs," which describes how the plant looks.
Where Goodenia hirsuta Grows
This type of goodenia plant can be found in dry (arid) areas of Australia. It grows in different kinds of soil. You can find it in Western Australia, the northeastern part of the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Queensland.
Protecting Goodenia hirsuta
The conservation status of Goodenia hirsuta tells us how safe the plant is from disappearing.
In the Northern Territory, the government considers it of "least concern." This means that there are plenty of these plants, and they are not currently at risk. The Queensland Government also lists it as "least concern" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992.
However, in Western Australia, the Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified it as "Priority Three." This means that while the plant is not in immediate danger, it is not very well known and has only been found in a few places. Scientists are still learning more about it.
