Keith's zieria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keith's zieria |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zieria
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| Species: |
ingramii
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The Zieria ingramii, also known as Keith's zieria, is a special plant. It belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. This plant is endemic, which means it only grows naturally in a small area in central New South Wales, Australia.
Keith's zieria is a thin, tall, and fragrant shrub. Its leaves look a bit like clover because they have three parts. When it blooms, it has clusters of about seven white or light pink flowers. Each flower has four petals and four stamens. You can only find this plant in two state forests near a town called Dubbo.
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What Does Keith's Zieria Look Like?
Keith's zieria is a slender and fragrant shrub. It can grow up to about 0.6 m (2 ft) tall. Its branches have ridges, but they are not bumpy like some other zieria plants.
Its Leaves
The leaves are made up of three small parts, called leaflets. These leaflets are long and narrow. The middle leaflet is usually 9–19 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. The stem that connects the leaflets to the branch is about 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long.
Both sides of the leaflets are the same color. The edges of the leaflets are rolled under, almost touching the middle vein. The top surface of the leaf is smooth and has tiny oil glands. These glands give the plant its smell. The bottom surface has long, soft hairs.
Its Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in clusters, usually about seven flowers in each group. These clusters grow where the leaves meet the stem, called the leaf axil. The flower clusters are about the same length as the leaves.
The small, triangular parts at the base of the flower, called sepals, are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and smooth. The four petals are white to light pink and about 3 mm (0.1 in) long. Their bases overlap each other. The outside of the petals is hairy, while the inside is smooth. Each flower has four stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
Keith's zieria flowers in spring. After flowering, it produces fruits. These fruits are smooth, bumpy, and have four sections. They are called capsules and contain dull black seeds.
Similar Plants
This zieria plant looks a bit like another species called Z. aspalathoides. However, Z. aspalathoides has fewer but larger flowers in each group. Its leaflets are also shorter and bumpy.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The plant Zieria ingramii was officially described in 2002. It was named by a scientist named James Armstrong. He found a sample of the plant in the Goonoo State Forest. The description was published in a scientific journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
Both the scientific name (ingramii) and the common name (Keith's zieria) honor a person named Keith Ingram. He was a botanical collector, meaning he collected plants for scientific study.
Where Does Keith's Zieria Live?
Keith's zieria is currently only found in two places: Goonoo Forest and Cobbora Forest. Both of these forests are located near the town of Dubbo in New South Wales.
This plant grows in woodlands and forests. It prefers light, sandy soil. You can often find it growing alongside other trees like black cypress pine (Callitris endlicheri) and blue-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus nubila).
Protecting Keith's Zieria
Keith's zieria is classified as "endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It is protected under two important laws: the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government's Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. These laws help protect plants and animals that are in danger.
Scientists know that there are only about 2,000 individual Keith's zieria plants left. The exact reasons why the number of these plants is decreasing are not fully understood. However, one possible reason might be the lack of natural bushfires in the area. Fire can sometimes help certain plants to grow and spread.
