New Zealand calceolaria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Zealand calceolaria |
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Invalid status (NZ TCS)
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Calceolaria sinclairii Hook. |
The Jovellana sinclairii, also known as the New Zealand calceolaria, is a special shrub found only in New Zealand. It grows in the forests of the eastern and central North Island. This plant belongs to the Calceolariaceae family. It has pretty white, bell-shaped flowers with purple spots inside.
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What the New Zealand Calceolaria Looks Like
The Jovellana sinclairii is a plant that lives for many years. It grows into a round bush, about 1 meter (3 feet) tall and 1.8 meters (6 feet) wide. Its leaves grow in pairs, one across from the other. They are 2 to 8 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide. The top of the leaves is dark green to yellow-green, and the bottom is light green.
The plant's stems can be up to 80 cm (31 inches) long. They are green or red. As the plant gets older, the bottom parts of the stems become woody, like a tree trunk.
Flowers and Seeds
The Jovellana sinclairii has flower clusters called inflorescences that can be 30 cm (12 inches) long. These clusters hold many cream-white flowers. Each flower hangs from a small stalk about 3 cm (1 inch) long. The flowers are 4.8 to 10.2 mm long. They have purple spots and two curved "lips."
Inside the flower, there are parts called anthers that are almost round. These parts help the plant make seeds. The seeds are tiny, only 0.35 to 0.6 mm long, and are dark red-brown. They are hidden inside a small, egg-shaped case called a capsule. This capsule is about 3.8 to 4.2 mm long.
The plant produces fruit from October to February. Its seeds are spread by the wind. They might also be carried by water.
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Top side of the leaf
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Underside of leaf
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A full flower cluster
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A close-up of the flower
Where the Name Comes From
The name Jovellana honors Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos. He was a Spanish writer and politician in the 1700s who supported the study of plants. The second part of the name, sinclairii, is named after Andrew Sinclair. He was a naturalist and an important government official in New Zealand from around 1796 to 1861.
How to Grow This Plant
The New Zealand calceolaria is easy to grow. You can start new plants from both seeds and cuttings. Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that can grow roots. This plant likes a spot that is protected from strong winds. It also prefers a shady or partly shady area with soil that drains water well.
How to Tell It Apart from Similar Plants
The Jovellana sinclairii looks a lot like another plant from the same group, Jovellana repens. This other plant is also found only in New Zealand. However, Jovellana repens has smaller leaves and flowers. It also usually has fewer flowers in each cluster. Another big difference is how they grow. Jovellana repens spreads out like a mat on the ground. In contrast, Jovellana sinclairii grows into a small, upright bush.
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Jovellana sinclairii growing into a small shrub
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Jovellana repens as a mat covering a bank
