Myoporum crassifolium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Myoporum crassifolium |
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Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Myoporum
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Species: |
crassifolium
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The Myoporum crassifolium is a special plant that belongs to the figwort family. It's a type of shrub or small tree. It has thick, fleshy leaves and pretty white flowers that often have pink or purple spots. This plant is found only in certain places, like New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and the Loyalty Islands. It's also a great source of a useful substance called essential oil, which contains something called bisabolol.
What it Looks Like
Myoporum crassifolium can grow quite tall, up to about 6 meters (20 feet) high. Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are usually between 2.8 and 14.5 centimeters (1.1 to 5.7 inches) long and 1.1 to 4.4 centimeters (0.4 to 1.7 inches) wide. These leaves are smooth and shiny on both sides, and they feel thick and fleshy. They are shaped like an oval or an egg, sometimes narrower at the bottom. You can see the main vein of the leaf more clearly on the underside.
The flowers grow in small groups of 3 to 6 where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has 5 sepals (small leaf-like parts that protect the bud) and 5 white petals. The petals are often spotted with pink and are joined together at their base, forming a short tube. This tube is about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long. The petal tips spread out and are about 2.2 to 3.6 millimeters (0.09 to 0.14 inches) long. Inside the flower, there are 4 stamens (the parts that produce pollen) that stick out a little past the petals. After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit that looks like a small, round, pale purple or mauve drupe (a fleshy fruit with a hard pit inside). These fruits are about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.28 inches) long.
How it Got its Name
The plant Myoporum crassifolium was officially described for the first time in 1786 by a scientist named Georg Forster. He wrote about it in his book, Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. The second part of its name, crassifolium, comes from Latin words meaning "thick-leaved." This makes sense because the plant has thick, fleshy leaves!
Where it Lives
You can find Myoporum crassifolium in New Caledonia, including the Loyalty Islands. It also grows on Efate and Aneityum islands in Vanuatu. This plant likes to grow in areas with shrubs and on rocky ground, often right behind beaches.
Is it Safe?
Good news! Myoporum crassifolium is currently considered "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
What it's Used For
On L'Île-des-Pins, which is an island in New Caledonia, this plant is used in traditional medicines. People also use the inner parts of its branches as torches. When these torches burn, they give off a white light and a pleasant smell.
Scientists have found that more than 80% of the essential oil taken from Myoporum crassifolium is made of a substance called bisabolol. Essential oils are concentrated liquids that contain natural scents and properties from plants. Bisabolol is a natural compound that is often used in cosmetics and skin care products because it can help soothe skin.