Nematolepis rhytidophylla facts for kids

Nematolepis rhytidophylla is a bushy plant. It has stems with angles and a coppery color. Its leaves are smooth and shiny. This plant grows white flowers in small groups during winter and spring. You can only find it in New South Wales, Australia. It is a plant that is endemic to this area, meaning it naturally lives nowhere else.

What Does It Look Like?

Nematolepis rhytidophylla is a thick bush. It can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) high. Its stems are angled and have small bumps. They are also covered in coppery-colored scales.

The leaves are shaped like an egg. They are about 0.3 to 1.2 centimeters long. They are also 2.5 to 9.5 centimeters wide. The leaves feel stiff and leathery. Their edges can be flat or slightly rolled under. The top side of the leaf is smooth and shiny. The underside has silvery scales. The tip of the leaf often has a small notch.

The flowers grow in small groups of 1 to 3. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower group is 2 to 7 millimeters long. The flower stems are somewhat flat. They are also covered in coppery scales.

There are 1 to 4 small leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are oblong-shaped and 1 to 2 millimeters long. Their outside is covered with coppery scales. The sepals are triangular. They are mostly joined at the bottom. They are usually smooth, white, and have tiny dots called glands. The white petals are 4 to 5 millimeters long. They are smooth and also have glands.

After flowering, the plant produces a dry fruit. This fruit is a capsule, about 3 to 3.2 millimeters long. It is somewhat square-shaped. It is smooth, has small bumps, and ends with a tiny triangular point. This plant flowers in spring and summer.

How It Got Its Name

The History of Its Scientific Name

This plant species was first officially described in 1998. Two scientists, David Albrecht and Neville Walsh, gave it the name Phebalium rhytidophyllum. They published their description in a science journal called Muelleria.

Later in 1998, another scientist named Paul G.Wilson changed its name. He renamed it Nematolepis rhytidophylla. This change was published in a journal called Nuytsia.

Where It Lives

Distribution and Habitat

Nematolepis rhytidophylla is a bush that grows under taller trees. It has a limited area where it can be found. You can find it growing in the mountain ranges. Specifically, it lives between Wog Wog and White Rock Mountains. These areas are southeast of Bombala in New South Wales. It prefers rocky areas with sclerophyll scrubland. This is a type of bushland with tough, hard-leaved plants.

Protecting This Plant

Conservation Status

Nematolepis rhytidophylla is considered a "vulnerable" species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. This status is given under a special law. The law is called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This act helps protect plants and animals in Australia.