Long purple flag facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long purple flag |
|
|---|---|
.JPG) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Patersonia
|
| Species: |
occidentalis
|
Patersonia occidentalis, often called purple flag or long purple flag, is a beautiful plant that lives for many years. It has soft stems and is only found in Western Australia. The Noongar people, who are the traditional owners of the land, call this plant komma.
This plant grows in clumps from underground stems called rhizomes. It usually reaches a height of about 0.75 to 1.5 meters (2.5 to 5 feet). It is not very wide, usually less than 0.5 meters (1.6 feet). The purple flag plant shows off its lovely purple flowers between August and December each year.
Where Does the Purple Flag Grow?
The purple flag plant likes to grow in specific places. You can find it near granite rocks, in areas that get wet during winter, and on sand dunes. It grows in many parts of Western Australia, including the Mid West, Peel, Wheatbelt, South West, Great Southern, and Goldfields-Esperance regions. This plant can grow in different types of soil, such as gravelly, sandy, or loamy soils. It often grows over granite, limestone, or ironstone.
Growing Purple Flag in Gardens
People also like to grow the purple flag plant in their gardens. It is a good choice because it can handle frost and does well in dry conditions. This makes it a tough and adaptable plant for many garden types.
How the Purple Flag Got its Name
The purple flag plant was first officially described by a botanist named Robert Brown. He wrote about it in 1810 in his book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. This was an important step in understanding and naming plants from Australia.
