Isopogon mnoraifolius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isopogon mnoraifolius |
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| At Angourie | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Isopogon
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| Species: |
mnoraifolius
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Isopogon mnoraifolius is a special kind of shrub. It belongs to the Proteaceae plant family. This plant is only found in New South Wales, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
What it Looks Like
This plant is a shrub that grows about 40 to 80 centimeters tall. That's roughly knee-high to waist-high for a kid! Its small branches are a bit grey and feel fuzzy. The leaves are usually divided into parts. They can be up to 10 centimeters long and 3 centimeters wide.
Flowers and Seeds
Isopogon mnoraifolius flowers in September. Its flower heads are round or oval-shaped. They grow at the ends of the stems. These flower heads are about 3 to 4 centimeters wide. Each individual flower is creamy yellow and about 1.7 to 2 centimeters long.
After the flowers drop off, an oval-shaped cone appears. This cone is about 2.2 centimeters wide. It holds the plant's seeds. A cool fact about these flowers is that they are partly hairy. This helps tell them apart from similar plants like I. anemonifolius and Isopogon petiolaris, which have completely smooth flowers.
How it Got its Name
The plant was first officially described in 1975. A botanist named Donald McGillivray discovered it. He found it near Angourie in 1967. He named it mnoraifolius because its leaves look a bit like a menorah. A menorah is a special lamp with many branches.
Mr. McGillivray noted that this plant was hard to spot before 1966. It looked very similar to another common plant, Isopogon anemonifolius. He also thought it was related to Isopogon dawsonii.
Where it Lives
Isopogon mnoraifolius only grows in a small part of northeastern New South Wales. You can find it near Grafton. It grows along the coast, from Angourie south to Minnie Water. It is also found in the Coaldale area.
This plant likes to grow in clay or sandy soils. It lives in open areas called heathland. You can also find it at the edges of woodlands. Sadly, the places where this plant lives are sometimes threatened by new buildings and other developments.
Growing This Plant
Isopogon mnoraifolius can be a nice plant for gardens. It works well in a rock garden or in a pot. However, it doesn't flower as much as some other Isopogon plants. It needs soil that drains water well. This plant is quite easy to grow from cuttings.
