Persoonia leucopogon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Persoonia leucopogon |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Persoonia
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| Species: |
leucopogon
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Persoonia leucopogon is a special kind of flowering plant that belongs to the Proteaceae family. It's found only in Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. This plant is a shrub that can stand upright or grow low to the ground. When it's young, its branches are quite hairy. It has narrow leaves and pretty yellow or greenish-yellow flowers. These flowers grow either by themselves or in small groups of up to four.
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What it Looks Like
Persoonia leucopogon is a shrub that usually grows to be about 30 to 60 centimeters (about 1 to 2 feet) tall. Its young branches are covered in thick, greyish or rust-colored hairs. The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are narrow and shaped like a long oval, about 7 to 15 millimeters long and 1.3 to 2.2 millimeters wide. Interestingly, the leaves are often twisted all the way around!
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of this plant grow either alone or in small groups of up to four. Each flower sits on a small stalk about 2.5 to 4 millimeters long. The flower parts, called tepals, are yellow to greenish-yellow. They are very hairy on the outside and measure about 8.5 to 10.5 millimeters long. Inside, they have yellow anthers, which are part of the flower that holds pollen.
Persoonia leucopogon flowers from November to March. After flowering, it produces a smooth, round fruit. This fruit is a type of drupe, which means it has a fleshy outer part and a hard pit or "stone" inside, like a peach or cherry.
Plant Name and History
The scientific name Persoonia leucopogon was first officially given to this plant in 1899. It was described by a scientist named Spencer Le Marchant Moore. He wrote about it in a scientific book called the Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany.
Where it Lives
This type of geebung plant usually grows in areas called heathlands. Heathlands are open areas with low-growing shrubs and plants. So far, this plant has only been found in a few specific places in Western Australia. These locations include Bungalbin and an area between Coolgardie and Laverton. These places are part of the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, and Murchison biogeographic regions.
Protecting This Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Persoonia leucopogon a special status called "Priority One". This means the plant is known to exist in only one or a very few places. Because of this, it's considered to be at risk and needs special care to protect it.
