Persoonia spathulata facts for kids
Persoonia spathulata is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Proteaceae family. This plant is found only in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub that can grow upright or spread out. Its young branches have tiny hairs. The leaves are shaped like spatulas. It has bright yellow flowers that grow alone or in pairs on a small stem. This stem continues to grow even after the flowers have bloomed.
Quick facts for kids Persoonia spathulata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Persoonia
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| Species: |
spathulata
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Contents
What Does This Plant Look Like?
Persoonia spathulata is a shrub that usually grows between 0.3 and 0.9 meters (about 1 to 3 feet) tall. It has smooth bark. The young branches are covered with two kinds of hairs. Some hairs are brown and sticky (glandular). Others are greyish and not sticky.
The leaves are mostly shaped like a spatula. They are about 15 to 38 millimeters (0.6 to 1.5 inches) long. They are also about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. The base of each leaf is twisted.
The yellow flowers grow alone or in pairs. They are on a very short stem called a rachis, which is only up to 2 millimeters long. Each flower sits on its own small stalk, called a pedicel. This stalk is about 3.5 to 9 millimeters long. At the base of each flower's stalk, there is a leaf or a small scale-like leaf.
The flower parts, called tepals, are yellow and about 9 to 13 millimeters long. The parts that hold pollen, called anthers, are also yellow. This plant usually flowers from December to January. After flowering, it produces a smooth, fleshy fruit called a drupe.
How It Got Its Name
The plant Persoonia spathulata was first officially described in 1810. This was done by a botanist named Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773). He wrote about it in a publication called Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Robert Brown had collected samples of this plant at a place called Lucky Bay.
Where Does It Grow?
This type of geebung plant grows in areas with low, dense shrubs, known as heathland. You can find it in the south-west of Western Australia. It grows in the region between Dingo Rock, Cape Le Grand, and Israelite Bay.
Protecting This Plant
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Persoonia spathulata a special conservation status. It is listed as "Priority Two". This means that not much is known about this plant. It has only been found in one or a few specific locations. This status helps protect it.
