Nicotiana occidentalis subsp. hesperis facts for kids

Nicotiana occidentalis subsp. hesperis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Nicotiana
Species:	N. occidentalis
Subspecies:	N. o. subsp. hesperis
Trinomial name
Nicotiana occidentalis subsp. hesperis (N.T.Burb.) P.Horton

Nicotiana occidentalis subsp. hesperis is a special type of plant, a short-lived herb that grows naturally in Australia. It's part of the same plant family as tobacco, but this particular subspecies is unique to its home country.

What it Looks Like

This plant is a type of herb, which means it doesn't have a woody stem like a tree or shrub. It grows straight up, usually between 10 and 50 centimeters tall. That's about the height of a ruler to half a meter! It can live for just one year (an annual plant) or for a few years (a short-lived perennial). When it blooms, it has pretty white flowers.

How it Got its Name

Plants and animals get scientific names so everyone around the world knows exactly which one is being talked about. This plant was first described in 1960 by a scientist named Nancy Tyson Burbidge. She gave it its own full species name, calling it Nicotiana hesperis.

Later, in 1981, another scientist, Philippa Horton, studied it more closely. She decided that it was very similar to another plant called Nicotiana occidentalis. So, she changed its rank from a full species to a subspecies of Nicotiana occidentalis. Think of it like being part of a bigger family, but still having its own special name.

Where it Grows

This plant is endemic to Western Australia. This means it's only found naturally in that part of the world. It's quite common in the middle parts of Western Australia. You'll find it most often along the coast, but it can also grow far inland, even north of a place called Kalgoorlie.