Petrophile merrallii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Petrophile merrallii
A=flowering and fruiting branchlet; B=leaf; C=flower; D,E=upper and lower surfaces of nut
Scientific classification
Genus:	Petrophile
Species:	merrallii

Petrophile merrallii is a cool flowering plant that grows as a shrub. It belongs to the Proteaceae family, which has many unique plants. This plant is special because it's endemic to southwestern Western Australia, meaning it's found naturally only in that part of the world! It has needle-shaped leaves that spread out and pretty yellow flowers that grow in oval or round clusters.

What Does Petrophile merrallii Look Like?

Petrophile merrallii is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.5 to 1.5 meters (about 1.5 to 5 feet) tall. Its young branches and leaves are a bit hairy. As they get older, they become smooth or glabrous.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this plant are like spreading needles. They are about 4 to 14 millimeters (0.16 to 0.55 inches) long and feel rough if you touch them.

The flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. These clusters are oval or round, and can be up to about 16 millimeters (0.63 inches) wide. At the bottom of each flower cluster, there are many overlapping, egg-shaped leaves called involucral bracts.

The flowers themselves are about 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) long. They are bright yellow and have a hairy texture.

When Does It Flower?

Petrophile merrallii usually blooms from August to October. After the flowers, the plant produces a type of fruit called a nut. These nuts are joined together in an oval or round head, which can grow up to 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) wide.

How Was Petrophile merrallii Named?

The scientific name Petrophile merrallii was first officially described in 1995. This happened in a book called Flora of Australia. The person who described it was Donald Bruce Foreman. He used plant samples that were collected near Southern Cross in 1968.

The second part of the plant's name, merrallii, is a special way to honor someone. It was named after Edwin Merrall. He was a miner who also collected plant specimens in Victoria between 1887 and 1888.

Where Does Petrophile merrallii Live?

This interesting plant grows in southwestern Western Australia. It likes areas with heath (a type of shrubland) and mallee (a type of eucalyptus woodland).

Habitat Details

You can find Petrophile merrallii growing in sandy-gravelly soils. These soils are often found over a type of rock called laterite.

The plant's natural home stretches between several towns:

• Southern Cross
• Muntadgin
• Pingrup
• Lake Grace

These areas are part of different biogeographic regions in Western Australia. These regions include the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, and Mallee areas.

Is Petrophile merrallii Safe?

The good news is that Petrophile merrallii is currently classified as "not threatened." This means that the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife believes there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not at risk of disappearing.