Leionema ambiens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leionema ambiens |
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Leionema
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ambiens
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Leionema ambiens is a special kind of rare shrub. It grows in Australia, mainly around the Guyra area in New South Wales and also in Queensland. This plant has long leaves that wrap around its stems. In spring and early summer, it blooms with pretty white flowers.
Contents
What it Looks Like
Leionema ambiens is a small shrub. It can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. Its stems are smooth and often look like needles.
Leaves
The leaves of this plant are flat. They can be shaped like an oval, an egg, or a wide rectangle. Each leaf is about 6 to 10 centimeters (2.4 to 3.9 inches) long. They are also 25 to 40 centimeters (9.8 to 15.7 inches) wide. The tip of the leaf can be pointy or rounded. A cool thing about these leaves is that they wrap around the stem. They also have a clear line down the middle and slightly jagged edges.
Flowers
The flowers of Leionema ambiens grow in a group at the end of the stem. Each group can have anywhere from 20 to 200 white flowers. The petals of each flower are about 4.5 millimeters (0.18 inches) long. Each flower sits on a small, angled stalk called a pedicel. This shrub flowers from spring into early summer.
Seed Pods
After flowering, the plant produces seed pods. These pods stand mostly upright. They are about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) long and have a tiny beak-like tip.
Plant Names and History
Every plant has a scientific name, and these names sometimes change.
First Name
This plant was first officially described in 1868. A scientist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Eriostemon ambiens. He wrote about it in a science book called Fragmenta Phytogrphiae Australiae.
New Name
Later, in 1998, another scientist named Paul G. Wilson changed its name. He renamed it Leionema ambiens. This new description was published in a science magazine called Nuytsia.
What the Name Means
The second part of the name, ambiens, comes from a Latin word. It means "going around" or "surround." This might refer to how its leaves wrap around the stem.
Where it Grows
Leionema ambiens is quite rare. It is only found in a few places.
New South Wales
In New South Wales, Australia, it grows in the Guyra area. It likes to live in heathlands, which are open areas with small shrubs. You can often find it growing among large granite rocks.
Queensland
This plant also grows in the state of Queensland, Australia.
See also
In Spanish: Leionema ambiens para niños
