Nematolepis phebalioides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nematolepis phebalioides |
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Nematolepis
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N. phebalioides
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The Nematolepis phebalioides is a special kind of plant. It's a small, spreading shrub that grows in Western Australia. This plant has branches covered in tiny scales. Its leaves are smooth and shiny.
One of the most interesting things about it is its flowers. They are red and shaped like tubes, hanging downwards. The tips of these flowers can be yellow or green. You can see them blooming for a long time, usually from March to December. This plant is endemic to Western Australia. This means it only grows naturally in that part of the world.
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What Does Nematolepis phebalioides Look Like?
This plant is an upright shrub that can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall. Its branches grow upwards.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves are attached to the branches by a short stalk called a petiole. They are shaped like an oval, about 15 millimeters (a bit more than half an inch) long. The leaves feel leathery and are shiny on top. Underneath, they have tiny grey scales. The very tip of each leaf is rounded.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Nematolepis phebalioides are very unique. They grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower is shaped like a tube and is about 15 millimeters long. They hang downwards from a small stalk called a pedicel, which is about 3 millimeters long.
At the base of the flower, there are small, boat-shaped leaves called bracts. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are triangular or rounded. The main part of the flower is a smooth, red, bell-shaped tube. This tube is usually 10 to 15 millimeters long. It has five short lobes (parts) that are yellow or green. Inside the flower, you can see yellow stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
After the flower blooms, it forms a dry fruit. This fruit is a small capsule, about 5 millimeters high. It's square-shaped, a bit wrinkled, and ends in a short, pointy tip. This plant can flower at different times throughout the year, but it blooms most often in winter.
Where Does Nematolepis phebalioides Grow?
This plant is found only along the south coast of Western Australia. It grows in an area stretching from a place called Dumbleyung all the way east to Israelite Bay.
You can find Nematolepis phebalioides growing in different types of soil. It likes loam (a mix of sand, silt, and clay), clay, and even coastal limestone. It also grows in sand dunes and on hills made of laterite, which is a type of soil rich in iron and aluminum. Sometimes, it can be found in areas with dense shrubland called mallee thickets.
How We Study This Plant: Taxonomy
The scientific name for this plant, Nematolepis phebalioides, was first officially described in 1852. A scientist named Nicolai Turczaninow wrote down its description. He published his findings in a science journal called Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou. This is how new plant species are formally recognized by scientists around the world.
