Hooded smokebush facts for kids

The Hooded Smokebush (Conospermum glumaceum) is a cool shrub that grows only in Western Australia. It's a special plant because you won't find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world!

What Does the Hooded Smokebush Look Like?

The Hooded Smokebush is a shrub that stands upright. It can grow to be about 0.5 to 1.7 meters tall, which is roughly the height of a person. Its leaves are long and narrow, like thin lines. They can be between 1.5 and 7.5 centimeters long and just 1 to 5 millimeters wide. When it blooms, this plant shows off beautiful flowers. They grow in clusters called panicles. You might see them in white, cream, yellow, or even purple!

How Was it Named?

The Hooded Smokebush was first described by a botanist named John Lindley in 1839. He wrote about it in his book, A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. Lindley thought it was a "strange species" because it looked a bit like another plant called Bupleurum, with large, thin leaf-like parts called bracts. Later, in 1848, another scientist named Stephan Endlicher gave it a different name, Conospermum lupulinum. However, in 1995, a botanist named Eleanor Bennett confirmed that both names were for the same plant. So, Conospermum glumaceum is the official scientific name!

Where Does the Hooded Smokebush Grow?

This unique shrub grows in Western Australia. You can find it in hilly areas, especially in soils that are rich in iron, called lateritic soils. It grows mainly between the towns of Eneabba and Red Hill. This area includes parts of the Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain regions. Some populations also grow in the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest regions.

Is the Hooded Smokebush in Danger?

Good news! The Hooded Smokebush is not considered to be a threatened plant. This means it's doing well in its natural habitat and there are enough of them growing in the wild.