Leptocarpus (plant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptocarpus (plant) |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Restionaceae |
| Genus: | Leptocarpus R. Br. 1810 not Willd. ex Link 1820 (syn of Tamonea in Verbenaceae) |
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Leptocarpus is a group of special plants that look a lot like rushes. They are called "dioecious" because each plant has either male or female flowers, but not both. These plants live for many years, which means they are "perennial." Scientists first described this group of plants in 1810.
Contents
About Leptocarpus Plants
These unique plants are found only in Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific place, it is called "endemic." So, all Leptocarpus species grow naturally only in Australia. Some plants that used to be called Leptocarpus were found in other parts of the world. However, scientists later moved them to different plant groups.
Types of Leptocarpus
As of 2019, scientists recognize two main types, or species, of Leptocarpus plants:
- L. laxus (R.Br.) B.G.Briggs – This species grows in Western Australia.
- L. tenax (Labill.) R.Br. – This species is found across all six states of Australia, but not in the Northern Territory.
Plants Once Called Leptocarpus
Over 70 other plant names have used the name Leptocarpus in the past. However, these plants have since been moved into other plant groups by scientists. This happens when new research shows that certain plants are more closely related to other groups. Some of the plant groups they were moved to include:
- Apodasmia
- Chaetanthus
- Dapsilanthus
- Empodisma
- Hydrophilus
- Hypolaena
- Lepyrodia
- Meeboldina
- Restio
- Rhodocoma
- Staberoha
- Willdenowia
What is a Homonym?
Sometimes, two different things end up with the same name. This is called a "homonym." In 1820, the name Leptocarpus was also used for some plants in a different family called Verbenaceae. This caused confusion because the name was already used for the rush-like plants. One plant from this confusing group was:
- Leptocarpus chamaedrifolius Willd. – This plant is now correctly known as Tamonea spicata Aubl..
See also
In Spanish: Leptocarpus para niños
