Myoporum petiolatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sticky boobialla |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Myoporum
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| Species: |
petiolatum
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The Sticky boobialla (scientific name: Myoporum petiolatum) is a special plant that grows only in the southeastern parts of Australia. It's a type of shrub and belongs to the figwort family. For a long time, people sometimes mixed it up with another plant called Myoporum viscosum. But you can tell the Sticky boobialla apart because its leaves are thinner, have clear stalks (called petioles), and don't have a strong smell.
What Does Sticky Boobialla Look Like?
The Sticky boobialla is usually a shrub that grows about 0.5 and 2.0 metres (2 and 7 ft) tall. Its leaves grow one after another along the stem. Each leaf has a clear stalk, called a petiole, which is about 5–13 millimetres (0.2–0.5 in) long. The leaves themselves are mostly 30–63 millimetres (1–2 in) long and 10–27 millimetres (0.4–1 in) wide. They are shaped like an oval or an egg. The top side of the leaf is dark green and shiny, while the bottom side is lighter. The edges of the leaves have tiny saw-like teeth.
The flowers of the Sticky boobialla grow in groups of 2 to 5 where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a small stalk about 4.6–8 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long. Each flower has 5 narrow, triangle-shaped parts called sepals, which protect the flower bud. It also has 5 petals that form a tube with spreading parts at the end. The petals are white, sometimes with a little bit of lilac color and purple spots on the spreading parts and inside the tube. The tube part of the flower is 3–4.5 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long, and the spreading parts are 4.4–6.7 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long. After the flower blooms, it produces a juicy, round, yellow-green fruit called a drupe. This fruit is about 5 millimetres (0.2 in) across.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Sticky boobialla's scientific name, Myoporum petiolatum, was first officially described in 2007 by a plant expert named Bob Chinnock. He found a sample of the plant in the Waitpinga Conservation Park. The second part of its name, petiolatum, comes from a Latin word meaning 'with a petiole'. This refers to the clear stalks on its leaves.
Where Does Sticky Boobialla Grow?
The Sticky boobialla grows naturally in South Australia and Victoria. You can find it in places like the Flinders Ranges, the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, and the hills around Melbourne. It often grows in open areas of woodlands, which are areas with many trees but also open spaces.
