Philotheca eremicola facts for kids
Philotheca eremicola is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Rutaceae family, which includes citrus plants. This plant is special because it is found only in Western Australia. It's a small bush that looks a bit like another plant called Philotheca coateana, but Philotheca eremicola has smaller leaves and different sepals (the leaf-like parts that protect a flower bud).
Quick facts for kids Philotheca eremicola |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Philotheca
|
| Species: |
eremicola
|
Contents
What Does Philotheca eremicola Look Like?
Philotheca eremicola is a shrub, which means it's a woody bush. It can grow up to about 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. Its small branches are smooth, without any hairs.
The leaves of this plant grow close together near the ends of the branches. They are quite tiny, only about 2.5 millimeters long. These leaves are shiny green and have small, bumpy spots that are actually tiny glands.
The flowers grow one by one at the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a thin stalk about 4 millimeters long. The flower has five egg-shaped or narrow, triangular sepals, which are about 3 millimeters long. These sepals have clear brown glands on them.
The flowers also have five white petals, which are shaped like ellipses. Each petal has a pink line down its middle and is about 7 to 9 millimeters long. Inside the flower, there are ten stamens (the parts that make pollen). These stamens are separate from each other and are covered in tiny hairs.
How Was Philotheca eremicola Named?
The plant Philotheca eremicola was officially described for the first time in 1998. This was done by a scientist named Paul G. Wilson. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The description was based on plant samples collected by D.J. Pearson. These samples were found near the Tjirrkarli Community in the Gibson Desert of Western Australia.
Where Does Philotheca eremicola Live?
This special type of philotheca plant is only known to grow in one place. That place is where the first samples were collected, which is in the Gibson Desert in Western Australia.
Is Philotheca eremicola Protected?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given this plant a special protection status. It is classified as "Priority One".
This means that Philotheca eremicola is known from only one or a few locations. Because of this, it could be at risk if something happens to those areas. Protecting these plants helps make sure they can continue to grow in the wild.
