Isopogon gardneri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Isopogon gardneri
Near Tarin Rock
Scientific classification
Genus:	Isopogon
Species:	gardneri
Synonyms
Dryandra petrophiloides C.A.Gardner

The Isopogon gardneri is a special plant from the Proteaceae family. It only grows in the southwest part of Western Australia. This plant is a thick, prickly bush with pointy leaves that fit together. It has fuzzy flowers that can be pale pink or yellow.

What it Looks Like

The Isopogon gardneri is a very prickly bush. It has lots of leaves and usually grows between 0.6 and 2 meters tall. Its branches are smooth and reddish-brown.

Its leaves are special because they fit together. They are about 40 mm long and grow on a stem called a petiole, which can be up to 25 mm long. Each part of the leaf has a very sharp tip.

The flowers grow in groups at the end of the branches. These flower heads are about 35 mm long. Each head has many pale pink or yellow flowers, about 30 mm long. Small leaf-like parts called bracts are found at the base of the flower heads.

The plant flowers from September to December. After flowering, it grows a hairy fruit called a nut. These nuts are small, about 3 to 3.5 mm long. They join together to form a cone-shaped head, up to 12 mm wide, surrounded by more bracts.

How it Got its Name

The Isopogon gardneri was officially described in 1995. A scientist named David Foreman wrote about it in a book called Flora of Australia. He found the plant near Hyden in 1984.

The second part of its name, gardneri, honors another botanist named Charles Gardner.

Where it Grows

This type of isopogon plant grows in areas with shrubs and mallee trees. You can find it in the southwest of Western Australia. It grows between places like Dundinin, Kukerin, Mount Holland, and Hatters Hill.

Conservation Status

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Isopogon gardneri is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.