Nematolepis elliptica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nematolepis elliptica |
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Scientific classification | |
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Nematolepis
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Species: |
N. elliptica
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Binomial name | |
Nematolepis elliptica (Paul G.Wilson) Paul G.Wilson
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Nematolepis elliptica is a small, bushy plant. It has pretty white flowers that grow in small groups. You can see these flowers from September to November. This plant only grows in one special place: the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. This means it is endemic there, found nowhere else naturally.
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What Does Nematolepis elliptica Look Like?
This plant is a small shrub. It can grow up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. Its branches are round and have a scaly, bumpy feel.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of Nematolepis elliptica are shaped like an oval. They are about 2 to 3.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1.4 inches) long. They are also about 0.8 to 1.5 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are flat. The top of the leaf is smooth, but the bottom has shiny, silver scales.
The white flowers grow in small groups of 2 to 5. These groups are called cymes. Each flower is quite small, about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. The tiny leaves near the flowers, called bracts, fall off early. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals, are shaped like small triangles. They are about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) long. The white petals are oval-shaped and slightly overlap. They are about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long.
Seeds
After the flowers bloom, a dry seed pod forms. It is almost square-shaped and about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) tall. It has a very tiny pointed tip. This plant flowers from September to November.
How Was Nematolepis elliptica Named?
This plant was first officially described in 1974. A scientist named Paul G. Wilson gave it the name Phebalium ellipticum. He published his description in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 1998, Paul G. Wilson changed the plant's name. He decided to call it Nematolepis elliptica. This new name was also published in the Nuytsia journal.
Where Does Nematolepis elliptica Grow?
Nematolepis elliptica only grows in a small area. You can find it in the mountain ranges east of Cooma in New South Wales, Australia. It likes to grow in areas with shrubs and forests. You will often see it among rocky places.