Lowan phebalium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lowan phebalium |
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| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phebalium
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| Species: |
lowanense
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The Phebalium lowanense, also called the Lowan phebalium, is a type of thin shrub. It grows only in southern Australia. This plant often has shiny silver and rusty-colored scales. Its leaves look like tiny tubes. It also has yellow and purple flowers that grow in umbrella-shaped clusters at the ends of its branches.
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What the Lowan Phebalium Looks Like
The Lowan phebalium is a thin shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.6 to 0.8 meters (about 2 to 2.6 feet) tall. The plant is often covered with shiny silver or rust-colored scales.
Its leaves are long and narrow, like tiny lines. They are usually 3 to 12 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.5 inches) long and 1 millimeter (about 0.04 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are tightly rolled under, which makes them look like small cylinders or tubes.
The top side of the leaves is smooth and a bit scaly. The bottom side is covered with silvery scales. The flowers are yellow and grow in groups called umbels. These groups are found at the ends of the small branches. Each group can have up to six flowers.
Each flower sits on a thick stalk called a pedicel, which is 3 to 7 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.3 inches) long. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are 3 to 4 millimeters long. They are joined together for about half their length. These sepals are covered with silvery scales and tiny star-shaped hairs.
The petals are shaped like eggs. They are about 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) long and 2.5 millimeters (about 0.1 inches) wide. The back of the petals is covered with silvery and rust-colored scales. This plant usually flowers from August to September.
How the Lowan Phebalium Got Its Name
The Lowan phebalium was first officially described in 1957. A botanist named James Hamlyn Willis gave it its formal name, Phebalium lowanense. He wrote about it in a science magazine called The Victorian Naturalist.
Willis found the first samples of this plant in 1948. He collected them near the border between South Australia and Victoria.
Where the Lowan Phebalium Grows
The Lowan phebalium grows in a special type of open forest. This forest is called heathy mallee woodland. It is found in a small area near the border of South Australia and Victoria. This region is part of the Murray Darling Depression biogeographic area.
Protecting the Lowan Phebalium
The Lowan phebalium is considered a "vulnerable" species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect it. The Australian Government lists it as vulnerable under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The main dangers to this plant are:
- Changes in fire patterns: Too many fires or not enough fires can harm the plant.
- Weed invasion: Weeds are plants that grow where they are not wanted. They can take over the space and resources that the Lowan phebalium needs.
- Clearing land: When roadsides and tracks are cleared, the plant's habitat can be destroyed.
