Petrophile semifurcata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petrophile semifurcata |
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| Near Tenindewa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Petrophile
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| Species: |
semifurcata
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Petrophile semifurcata is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Proteaceae family. This plant is found only in one specific area near the west coast of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that region.
It is a tall, bushy shrub. Its leaves are shaped like needles and have sharp points. Sometimes, the leaves can be split into two or three parts. The plant also has oval-shaped flowers. These flowers are usually whitish, lemon-yellow, or cream-coloured. They feel silky and hairy.
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What Does Petrophile semifurcata Look Like?
Petrophile semifurcata is a shrub that stands upright and looks very bushy. It usually grows to be about 0.3–1.7 m (1 ft 0 in – 5 ft 7 in) tall. Its small branches are covered in soft hairs.
The leaves of this plant are smooth and do not have hairs. They are shaped like needles and have sharp tips. Each leaf can be quite long, from 70–145 mm (2.8–5.7 in). Some leaves might have two or three small sections, and these sections can sometimes split again near the end.
The flowers grow in oval-shaped clusters at the tips of the branches. These flower clusters are about 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long. They sit on a small stalk, called a peduncle, which is 8–16 mm (0.31–0.63 in) long. There are small leaves, called bracts, at the base of the flowers, but they fall off easily.
Each flower is about 14 mm (0.55 in) long. They can be white, lemon-yellow, or cream-coloured. They are also covered in silky hairs. This plant usually blooms from September to November. After flowering, it produces a type of fruit called a nut. These nuts are joined together in an oval head, which is 25–38 mm (0.98–1.50 in) long. This nut cluster also sits on a stalk, about 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long.
How This Plant Got Its Name
The plant Petrophile semifurcata was officially described in 1870. This was done by a scientist named George Bentham. He used notes from another scientist, Ferdinand von Mueller. The plant material was first collected by Augustus Frederick Oldfield near the Murchison River.
The second part of its name, semifurcata, means "half-forked." This name was chosen because the leaves of the plant can sometimes be simple (not split) and sometimes forked (split in two).
Where Does Petrophile semifurcata Grow?
This Petrophile plant likes to grow in areas with heathland. It prefers sandy and gravelly soils. Sometimes, you can find it growing alongside Banksia plants.
You can mostly find Petrophile semifurcata between the towns of Geraldton and Kalbarri. These areas are part of different natural regions in the west of Western Australia. These regions include the Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains, and Yalgoo.
Is Petrophile semifurcata Safe?
Good news! The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Petrophile semifurcata. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.
