Leionema montanum facts for kids

Leionema montanum, also called the Mountain Phebalium, is a small and compact shrub. It has pretty clusters of white or pink flowers. These flowers appear in spring, usually from November to January. This plant is endemic to Tasmania, which means it grows naturally only there.

What it Looks Like

The Mountain Phebalium is a small shrub that grows close to the ground. Its branches are round and grow sideways. You might see tiny, star-shaped hairs on its older branches.

Its leaves are packed closely together. They look like needles or small clubs. Each leaf is about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long. The top of the leaf is mostly flat, while the bottom is smooth and rounded.

The flowers grow one by one at the end of the branches. Their petals spread out and are about 0.4 millimeters long. They can be white or pink and feel smooth. Inside the flower, the stamens (the parts that hold pollen) are a little longer than the petals.

The flower stem, called a pedicel, is about 1.5 to 3 millimeters long. It can be smooth or have a few star-shaped hairs. This stem is a bit thick, especially just below the flower's base.

Near the flower's base, there are small leaf-like parts called bracteoles. There are usually two or three of these, about 0.7 millimeters long. They are thick and smooth, similar to the sepals (the green parts that protect the flower bud).

After the flowers, the plant produces dry fruits. These fruits are rounded at the top and have a short, pointed tip.

Its Name Story

This plant was first officially described in 1834. A scientist named W.J.Hooker gave it the name Phebalium montanum.

Later, in 1998, another scientist named Paul G.Wilson changed its name. He renamed it Leionema montanum. This new name was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its name, montanum, comes from a Latin word. Montanus means "pertaining to a mountain." This makes sense because of where the plant grows!

Where it Lives

The Mountain Phebalium grows in mountain areas. You can find it in the north-eastern parts of Tasmania. It prefers to live in these higher, rocky places.