Kunzea newbeyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kunzea newbeyi |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Kunzea newbeyi in Monjebup Reserve | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Kunzea |
| Species: |
K. newbeyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kunzea newbeyi Toelken
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Kunzea newbeyi is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is found only in a small area along the south coast of Western Australia. It's a strong, bushy plant with small leaves. In October and November, it blooms with groups of about twenty to thirty pretty pink flowers.
Contents
What Kunzea newbeyi Looks Like
Kunzea newbeyi is a tough shrub. It has several main stems and many side branches. This plant can grow to be about 0.6 to 2.3 meters (2 to 7.5 feet) tall.
Its Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of Kunzea newbeyi are smooth, meaning they have no hairs. They are shaped like an oblong or a spear, wider at the top and narrower at the base. Each leaf is about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long. They are about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. The small stalk that connects the leaf to the stem, called a petiole, is another 1 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) long.
The flowers grow in round groups of 15 to 35 flowers. These groups are found at the ends of the branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing! Small, smooth, egg-shaped leaves called bracts and bracteoles surround the flowers.
The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is smooth and about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.20 inches) long. It has five sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are egg-shaped or triangular and about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. The five petals are a lovely mid to deep pink color. They are egg-shaped or almost round and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) long.
Inside the flower, there are about 40 to 50 stamens. These are the parts that produce pollen. They are about twice as long as the petals. The style, which is part of the female reproductive organ, is 6.5 to 8 millimeters (0.26 to 0.31 inches) long.
When It Flowers and Fruits
Kunzea newbeyi flowers in October and November. After flowering, it produces fruits. These fruits are shaped like an urn and are called capsules. The sepals from the flower stay on the fruit, pointing upwards.
How It Got Its Name
The plant Kunzea newbeyi was first officially described in 1996. This was done by a scientist named Hellmut R. Toelken. He wrote about it in a scientific paper called A revision of the genus Kunzea (Myrtaceae), published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
The second part of its name, newbeyi, was chosen to honor Mr. K. Newbey. He was the first person to collect a sample of this plant.
Where It Lives
This special kunzea plant often grows on the dry, lower slopes of rocky areas. It lives in a small region along the southern coast of Western Australia, in the area known as the Great Southern.
Protecting This Special Plant
Kunzea newbeyi is a rare plant. It is currently known from only five different groups of plants. However, many of these plants have recently been found in the Monjebup Reserve.
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Kunzea newbeyi as "Priority One". This means it is known from only one or a few places. These places could be at risk, so the plant needs special protection to survive.
