Leionema praetermissum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leionema praetermissum |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Leionema
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| Species: |
praetermissum
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Leionema praetermissum, also known as a type of Leionema shrub, is a special plant found only in New South Wales, Australia. It's easy to spot with its bumpy stems covered in tiny hairs. When it blooms, it shows off beautiful white flowers with petals that spread out and noticeable stamens (the parts that hold pollen).
What it Looks Like
Leionema praetermissum is a shrub that can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. It often has several stems growing from its base. These stems are quite unique because they are warty and shaped like needles. They sometimes have small, white, star-shaped hairs.
The leaves are smooth and narrow. They can be linear (like a line) or lance-shaped (like a spearhead). Each leaf is usually 20-35 mm (about 0.8-1.4 inches) long. Their edges are slightly rolled under. The leaves grow alternately along the stem, meaning one leaf grows on one side, then the next on the opposite side a bit higher up. Sometimes, they grow very close together. The leaves are either directly attached to the stem (sessile) or have a very short stalk (petiole) up to 2 mm long. Each leaf ends with a sharp point.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in small groups of 3 to 10. These clusters appear at the ends of branches or where leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a short stalk called a pedicel, which is 5-10 mm long. The whole flower cluster is barely longer than the leaves.
The main stalk holding the flower cluster (peduncle) is thin and warty. The smaller stalks for each flower (pedicels) are 6-12 mm long. The sepals, which are small leaf-like parts that protect the bud, are triangular and narrow. They are smooth on the outside and have a stiff tip.
Each flower has 5 petals that spread out. Each petal is 4-5 mm long. The top side of the petals is white, and the underside is pale green. They also have tiny glands. Inside the flower, there are 10 stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen, and they stand out clearly.
After flowering, the plant produces a fruit called a capsule. This capsule is 3-4 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. Leionema praetermissum usually flowers from April to July.
Naming the Plant
Leionema praetermissum was officially named by two scientists, Phillipa Alvarez and Marco Duretto, in 2019. They published their description in a science journal called Telopea.
The second part of its scientific name, praetermissum, has a special meaning. It refers to the fact that this plant was known to be a new, unnamed species for at least 30 years before it was finally given its official name.
Where it Lives
This plant has a very limited home range. It grows in wetlands, which are wet areas, right next to rivers and streams. You can find it in sandy soil and among large rocks. It often grows in thick groups of plants along the Colo River, which is located inside the Wollemi National Park in New South Wales, Australia.
