Medicosma obovata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Medicosma obovata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Medicosma
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| Species: |
obovata
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Medicosma obovata is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits like oranges and lemons! This plant is found only in a small part of far north Queensland, Australia. It has simple, egg-shaped leaves and pretty white flowers that grow in small groups.
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About Medicosma obovata
Medicosma obovata is a shrub or tree that usually grows up to about 6 meters (about 20 feet) tall. Its leaves and young branches are smooth, meaning they have no hairs.
Its Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are shaped like an egg, but the narrower part is at the bottom. They are usually between 4.5 and 10.5 centimeters (about 1.8 to 4.1 inches) long and 2.5 to 6 centimeters (about 1 to 2.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a small stalk, called a petiole, which is about 5 to 12 millimeters long.
The flowers are white and grow either alone or in small groups. Each flower is about 13 millimeters long. Some flowers grow directly on the stem (called sessile), while others have a very short stalk, called a pedicel, which is only about 1 millimeter long.
The small leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud, called sepals, are about 2 millimeters long and mostly smooth. The white petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower, are about 4.5 to 7 millimeters long. The back of the petals is covered with soft, flat hairs. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens (the parts that produce pollen) that are different lengths.
When It Flowers
Medicosma obovata usually blooms between April and July. After flowering, it produces a fruit called a follicle, which is about 6.5 to 7 millimeters long.
How Scientists Name It
Scientists give every living thing a unique name. This helps everyone know exactly which plant or animal they are talking about. The plant Medicosma obovata was first officially described in 1985. This was done by a scientist named Thomas Gordon Hartley. He wrote about it in a science magazine called the Australian Journal of Botany. He studied plant samples that were collected in 1967 from a place called Mount Dryander.
Where Does It Live?
This special plant grows in rainforests and "cloud forests." Cloud forests are high-altitude forests that are often covered in clouds or mist. Medicosma obovata is found at an altitude of about 820 meters (about 2,700 feet) above sea level. It is only known to live in the area where the first samples were found and in the nearby lower hills. This means it has a very small natural home.
Protecting This Plant
Because Medicosma obovata lives in such a small area, it is considered "vulnerable." This means it could be at risk of disappearing if its habitat is not protected. Both the Australian Government, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the Queensland Government, under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, have laws to help protect this plant and its home.
