Petrophile nivea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petrophile nivea |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Petrophile
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| Species: |
nivea
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Petrophile nivea is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Proteaceae family. This plant is special because it grows naturally only in one area: southwestern Western Australia. It's a small shrub with unique leaves and pretty white or cream-colored flowers.
What it Looks Like
Petrophile nivea is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.4 to 0.6 meters (about 1.3 to 2 feet) tall. It can spread out to be 0.3 to 0.4 meters (about 1 to 1.3 feet) wide. Its branches and leaves are smooth, meaning they have no hairs.
The leaves are packed closely together. They are shaped like cylinders, about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) wide. They can be straight, curved, or even S-shaped, and they have a sharp point at the end.
The flowers grow in roundish groups at the ends of the branches. These flower heads are about 20 to 25 millimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) across. At the bottom of each flower head, there are a few narrow, egg-shaped leaves called involucral bracts. The flowers themselves are about 15 millimeters (0.6 inches) long. They are white or cream-colored and covered in lots of tiny hairs.
Petrophile nivea blooms, or flowers, from May to August. After flowering, it produces a small, hard fruit called a nut. These nuts grow together in a round head, about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and wide.
How it was Named
The scientific name Petrophile nivea was first officially described in 2002. Two scientists, Michael Clyde Hislop and Barbara Lynette Rye, wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. They found the plant near a place called Warradarge in 1999.
The second part of its name, nivea, comes from a Latin word. It means "snow-white." This name was chosen because of the plant's beautiful white flowers.
Where it Lives and Grows
This special petrophile plant is only found in one specific spot. It lives near a town called Eneabba in Western Australia. It grows in a type of open land called heathland, often alongside other petrophile plants.
Protecting the Plant
Petrophile nivea is listed as "Threatened Flora." This means it is a rare plant that needs protection. The Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) helps to keep track of and protect plants like this one. They work to make sure these special plants don't disappear.
