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Conebushes facts for kids

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Conebushes
Petrophile macrostachya-2.JPG
Petrophile macrostachya
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subfamily: Proteoideae
Tribe: Petrophileae
Genus: Petrophile
R.Br. ex Knight
Type species
Petrophile pulchella
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Arthrostygma Steud. nom. inval., pro syn.
  • Atylus Salisb. nom. rej.
  • Petrophila R.Br. orth. var.
  • Petrophylla Cels orth. var.

Petrophile plants are a group of evergreen shrubs, often called conebushes. They belong to the Proteaceae family. You can only find these unique plants in Australia. Conebushes usually have spiky, divided leaves. They grow pretty pink, yellow, or cream-colored flowers. After the flowers, they produce cool grey, cone-shaped fruits.

What's in a Name?

The name Petrophile was first officially used in 1809. It was described by Joseph Knight. Another botanist, Robert Brown, also used the same name later.

The name Petrophile comes from two ancient Greek words: petra meaning "rock" and philos meaning "seeking" or "preferring". This name makes sense because some of these plants love to grow in rocky places!

Many Kinds of Conebushes

There are many different types of Petrophile species. The Australian Plant Census keeps track of all the accepted species and subspecies. Most of these plants are found in Western Australia.

Where Conebushes Grow

Most Petrophile species grow in Western Australia. However, you can also find some types in other Australian states. These include South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Growing Conebushes at Home

If you want to grow these plants, especially those from Western Australia, they need special soil. They like soil that drains water very well. Conebushes can handle dry periods and light frosts. They grow best in full sun or a bit of shade.

You can start new conebush plants from cuttings taken in autumn. You can also grow them from seeds. However, getting new plants to grow using either method can sometimes take a while.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Petrophile para niños

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