Rattle-pod grevillea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rattle-pod grevillea |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grevillea
|
| Species: |
stenobotrya
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Grevillea livea Ewart & M.E.L.Archer |
|
The Grevillea stenobotrya is a cool shrub that belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. People often call it the rattle-pod grevillea, sandhill grevillea, or sandhill spider flower. You can find this plant growing in the dry, desert-like areas of Australia.
Contents
What Does the Rattle-Pod Grevillea Look Like?
This amazing plant can grow quite tall, usually between 1.5 and 6 meters high. That's like one to three times the height of a grown-up!
Its Leaves
The leaves of the rattle-pod grevillea are long and thin, like a line. They can be anywhere from 6 to 28 centimeters long and very narrow, only about 0.7 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Sometimes, the leaves might have a few small divisions.
Its Flowers
When it's time to bloom, this grevillea shows off beautiful flowers. They can be cream, pale yellow, or even a soft pale pink. These flowers grow in groups that look like spikes at the ends of the branches. You can usually see them from May all the way through December in Australia.
Its Fruits
After the flowers, the plant produces interesting fruits. These fruits are hard, flat, and round, and they have a short, beak-like tip.
Where Does the Sandhill Grevillea Live?
The sandhill grevillea is found only in the dry, sandy parts of Australia. It loves to grow in areas with red sandhills. You'll often see it growing alongside other shrubs and a type of grass called Triodia.
Its Natural Home
This plant is native to several Australian states and territories. You can find it in:
How Was This Plant Named?
The Grevillea stenobotrya was officially described in 1875. A famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it its scientific name. He was the Victorian Government Botanist at the time.
The Discovery Journey
Mueller based his description on plants collected during an expedition. This trip was led by Ernest Giles in the MacDonnell Ranges in central Australia. Imagine exploring the outback to find new plants!
What Does the Name Mean?
The name stenobotrya comes from two ancient Greek words:
- Stenos means "narrow."
- Botrys means "bunch of grapes."
So, the name describes how its flowers grow in narrow, grape-like clusters.
