Hairy correa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy correa |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| In Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Correa
|
| Species: |
aemula
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Hairy Correa (its scientific name is Correa aemula) is a type of shrub. It grows only in south-eastern Australia. This plant has leaves shaped like wide hearts. Its flowers hang down and are usually green or grey-green. As they get older, they can turn a pretty mauve-purple color.
Contents
What Does the Hairy Correa Look Like?
The Hairy Correa is a shrub that can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. Its branches are covered in soft, woolly hairs.
Its leaves are thin and shaped like wide hearts. They are about 1 to 6 centimeters (0.4 to 2.4 inches) long. The leaves sit on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 4 to 6 millimeters long. Tiny star-shaped hairs cover the leaves.
The flowers hang downwards. They grow either by themselves or in pairs. Each flower hangs from a small stem called a pedicel. This stem is about 5 to 30 millimeters long.
At the base of the flower is a cup-shaped part called the calyx. It has four pointed parts, each about 4 to 8 millimeters long. The petals of the flower are joined together. They form a tube shape, about 15 to 30 millimeters long. These petals are green or grey-green. Over time, they change color to a mauve-purple.
Inside the flower, there are eight stamens. These are the parts that hold the pollen. They stick out a little bit from the end of the petal tube. Hairy Correa plants usually flower in spring and summer.
How Did the Hairy Correa Get Its Name?
The Hairy Correa was first officially described in 1838. A botanist named John Lindley wrote about it. He included it in a book by Thomas Mitchell. Lindley first called the plant Didimeria aemula.
Then, in 1858, another botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller, changed its name. He renamed it Correa aemula in his own book. This is the name we use today.
Where Does the Hairy Correa Grow?
The Hairy Correa grows in south-eastern Australia. You can find it in places like the Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It also grows in the Grampians in Victoria.
It likes to grow in sandy or rocky soils. You can often see it in open forests and heathy woodlands. Sometimes, the Hairy Correa can mix with other similar plants. This creates new types of plants called hybrids. Hybrids with Correa decumbens and Correa reflexa have been found.
See also
In Spanish: Correa aemula para niños
