Phebalium elegans facts for kids

Phebalium elegans is a special kind of shrub that only grows in Western Australia. It has interesting bumpy branches and leaves shaped like a wedge. This plant also grows pretty white flowers in small groups.

What Does it Look Like?

Phebalium elegans is a spreading shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.3–1.5 m (1 ft 0 in – 4 ft 11 in) tall. Its small branches are covered with tiny bumps, like warts, and shiny silver scales.

The leaves are shaped like a wedge. They have bumpy spots called glands. Each leaf is about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide. The top side of the leaf is smooth and hairless (this is called glabrous). The bottom side has silvery scales.

Two to five white flowers grow together in small groups. These groups are called umbels. They appear at the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a silvery, scaly stalk called a pedicel, which is 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long.

The green parts that protect the flower bud are called the calyx. The calyx is about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. It has silvery or reddish-brown scales on the outside. The flower's petals are wide and oval-shaped. They are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The back of the petals is covered with silvery to rust-colored scales. This plant blooms from July to September.

How it Got its Name

The plant Phebalium elegans was officially named in 1998. It was described by a scientist named Paul Wilson. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plants he studied were found in the Fraser Range. This area is east of Norseman. They were collected by Kenneth Newbey in 1980.

Where Does it Grow?

Phebalium elegans likes to grow on rocky hills. You can find it in Western Australia. Its habitat stretches from the Bremer Range to the Fraser Range.

Is it in Danger?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at this plant. They have classified Phebalium elegans as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.