Kunzea eriocalyx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kunzea eriocalyx |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kunzea
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| Species: |
eriocalyx
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Kunzea eriocalyx is a pretty flowering plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is special because it is endemic, meaning it only grows naturally in a small area on the south coast of Western Australia. It's a shrub with stems that spread out, and it can grow to be about 0.5 to 1 metre (2 to 3 ft) tall. You can see its lovely pink flowers blooming between August and October.
What it Looks Like
Kunzea eriocalyx is a shrub that has stems spreading out, with a few short branches. It usually grows to be about 0.5–1 m (2–3 ft) tall. Most of its leaves grow in groups at the ends of the side branches. The flowers also appear in these groups during the blooming season.
The leaves are long and narrow, a bit like a small baseball bat. They are about 2.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and less than 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. Each leaf has a tiny stalk called a petiole, which is up to 1 mm (0.04 in) long.
The flowers usually grow in clusters of five to seven at the tips of the side branches. Each flower cluster is surrounded by special, hairy leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. There are also smaller pairs of bracteoles (tiny bracts) around the flowers.
The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is about 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) long. It has five hairy, spear-shaped parts called sepals, which are about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. The five pink petals are 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long. Each flower has eleven to fifteen stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
This plant flowers from August to October. After the flowers, it produces urn-shaped fruits called capsules, which still have the sepals attached.
How it Got its Name
The plant Kunzea eriocalyx was first officially described in 1860 by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He published his description in a book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. The first plant specimen used for this description, known as the type specimen, was found near Middle Mount Barren.
The second part of the plant's name, eriocalyx, comes from two Ancient Greek words. Erion means "wool," and kalyx means "cup" or the outer parts of a flower, like the sepals. So, the name hints at the plant's hairy floral cup or sepals.
Where it Grows
Kunzea eriocalyx is often found growing among rocky areas made of quartzite. It lives in a small coastal area in Western Australia. This area is where the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions meet. It grows mainly around the Fitzgerald River National Park. Here, it prefers sandy clay soils that contain laterite, a type of soil rich in iron and aluminum.
Looking After the Plant
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Kunzea eriocalyx a special classification: "Priority Two." This means that not much is known about this plant, and it has only been found in one or a few places. This classification helps make sure people pay attention to it and work to protect it.
