Goodenia stelligera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodenia stelligera |
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Goodenia
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| Species: |
stelligera
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The Goodenia stelligera, also known as the spiked goodenia, is a beautiful flowering plant found only in Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific place, it is called endemic. This means you won't find the spiked goodenia growing naturally anywhere else in the world!
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About the Spiked Goodenia
This special plant is a type of herb that grows year after year. It has a straight stem that can reach up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall.
What the Spiked Goodenia Looks Like
The spiked goodenia often grows in a clump, with its leaves forming a circle around the bottom of the plant. These leaves are thick and can be long and narrow, sometimes up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. They might be smooth or have small teeth along their edges. The stem usually has very few leaves, or none at all.
The flowers of the spiked goodenia are bright yellow and shaped like tubes, about 13 to 16 millimeters long. If you look closely, you'll see tiny white and yellow star-shaped hairs on the outside of the yellow petals. These flowers mostly bloom during spring and summer in Australia.
After the flowers, the plant produces small, oval-shaped fruits called capsules. These capsules are about 5 to 9 millimeters long. When they open, they release tiny brown seeds, each only about 1.5 millimeters long.
Where the Spiked Goodenia Grows
You can find the spiked goodenia growing in wet, open areas called "heathlands." These special habitats are usually found along the coast of New South Wales and in southern Queensland, Australia.
How the Spiked Goodenia Got Its Name
The spiked goodenia was first officially described in 1810. A famous botanist named Robert Brown gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in his book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, which was a very important book about the plants of Australia.
