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Large-flowered baeckea facts for kids

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Large-flowered baeckea
Scientific classification
Genus:
Baeckea
Species:
grandiflora

Baeckea grandiflora, also known as the large-flowered baeckea, is a common shrub found in the heathlands along the coast of central Western Australia. Heathlands are areas with low-growing plants.

About the Large-Flowered Baeckea

What it Looks Like

This plant is a shrub that stands upright, but can sometimes look a bit messy or straggly. It usually grows to be about 0.5 to 2 meters (1.6 to 6.5 feet) tall.

Its leaves are spaced out and are shaped like thin cylinders, almost like a pencil. They are about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long.

The large-flowered baeckea blooms from August to December. Its flowers are a mix of pink and white and are quite noticeable, measuring about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) across.

Where it Grows

You can often find this shrub growing in different types of landscapes. It likes flat plains, gently rolling hills, and even rocky areas called breakaways.

It grows especially well in the Swan Coastal Plain region of Western Australia. This area is known for its gravelly, loamy (a mix of sand, silt, and clay), and sandy soils. These soils often sit on top of a hard layer of rock called laterite.

How it Got its Name

The Baeckea grandiflora was first officially described by a famous botanist named George Bentham. He wrote about it in 1867 in his important book, Flora Australiensis. This book describes many plants found in Australia.

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