Persoonia fastigiata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Persoonia fastigiata |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Persoonia
|
| Species: |
fastigiata
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Linkia fastigiata (R.Br.) Kuntze |
|
Persoonia fastigiata, also known as a geebung, is a special plant that belongs to the Proteaceae family. It is found only in one specific area: the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. This means it is endemic to that region, like a plant that only grows in your backyard and nowhere else in the world!
This plant is a small to medium-sized shrub. It has long, thin leaves and interesting hairy flowers. These flowers grow either by themselves or in small groups along a short stem, which botanists call a rachis.
Contents
What Does Persoonia fastigiata Look Like?
Persoonia fastigiata is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.5 to 1.5 meters (about 1.5 to 5 feet) tall. It has smooth bark, but its younger branches are often a bit hairy.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this geebung are mostly long and narrow, like tiny green sticks. They are usually between 15 and 40 millimeters (about 0.6 to 1.6 inches) long and less than 1 millimeter wide. When they are young, these leaves are also hairy.
The flowers are quite unique! They grow either alone or in small groups of up to five flowers. Each flower sits on a short, hairy stalk called a pedicel. The main parts of the flower, called tepals (which are like petals and sepals combined), are about 9 to 10 millimeters long. They have a fuzzy, hairy feel on the outside.
When Does It Flower?
You can usually see Persoonia fastigiata in bloom during the summer months, mainly from December to January in Australia.
How Persoonia fastigiata Got Its Name
The scientific name Persoonia fastigiata was first officially written down in 1830. A famous botanist named Robert Brown gave it this name. He described the plant in his book, Supplementum primum Prodromi florae Novae Hollandiae.
Who Discovered It?
The first samples of this plant were collected near Port Jackson by another botanist, Charles Fraser. Scientists use these collected samples to study and name new plants.
Where Does Persoonia fastigiata Live?
This special geebung plant loves to grow in woodlands and forests. It is found in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales.
Its Home Environment
You can find it in areas between Glen Innes and the Moonbi Range, as well as nearby places to the west. It prefers higher altitudes, usually growing between 800 and 1200 meters (about 2,600 to 3,900 feet) above sea level.
