Rice flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rice flower |
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| Ozothamnus diosmifolius flowers | |
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Gnaphalieae
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Ozothamnus
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O. diosmifolius
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| Ozothamnus diosmifolius |
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The Rice Flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius) is a tall, woody shrub that belongs to the daisy family, called Asteraceae. It grows naturally only in eastern Australia. People also call it by other names like white dogwood, pill flower, or sago bush. This plant has many small white "flowers" grouped together. Because of its pretty look, it is often used in flower arrangements.
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What the Rice Flower Looks Like
The rice flower is a woody shrub that stands upright. It usually grows to about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can grow even taller. Its branches feel rough and are covered with short hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the rice flower have a strong smell. They are usually about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also about 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches) wide. Plants growing inland might have slightly wider leaves.
Just like other plants in the daisy family, what looks like one "flower" is actually a head made of many tiny flowers. Each of these tiny flower heads is about 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) across. These small flower heads are grouped together in larger clusters. These clusters can hold from a few to hundreds of individual "flowers." The white or sometimes pink color comes from papery petals around each tiny flower head.
How Rice Flower Got Its Name
The rice flower was first officially described in 1804. A scientist named Étienne Pierre Ventenat gave it the name Gnaphalium diosmifolium. Later, in 1838, another scientist, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, changed its name to Ozothamnus diosmifolius.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, diosmifolius, means that its leaves look similar to those of a plant called Diosma. The common names "rice flower" and "sago bush" come from how the flowers look when they are still buds. They look like tiny grains of rice or sago.
Where Rice Flower Grows
The rice flower is found in many places across eastern Australia. You can see it along the coast, on the tablelands, and on the western slopes. It grows in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. Its range stretches north from Eden up to Wide Bay. It often grows in open heathlands and at the edges of rainforests, especially on ridges.
How Rice Flower Reproduces
The rice flower has a clever way to make sure it gets new seeds. The plant releases its pollen at a different time of day than when its stigma (the part that receives pollen) is ready. This difference in timing helps to increase the chances of cross-pollination. Cross-pollination means pollen from one plant fertilizes another plant.
Growing Rice Flower for People
Before the mid-1980s, people collected rice flowers directly from the wild. They used them for cut flower arrangements. After some research, people started growing rice flowers on farms in 1990.
Commercial Success
By 1999, there were about 100 farms growing rice flowers. Exports of these flowers, mostly to Japan, grew a lot. About 600,000 stems were exported. This shows how popular and useful the rice flower became.
Gallery
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O. diosmifolius buds
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leaves and flowers
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pink form
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See also
In Spanish: Ozothamnus diosmifolius para niños
