Freycinet waxflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freycinet waxflower |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Philotheca
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| Species: |
freyciana
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The Freycinet waxflower (Philotheca freyciana) is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which includes citrus plants. This small shrub is found only in a tiny part of Tasmania, Australia. It has unique heart-shaped leaves and pretty white flowers.
Contents
What the Freycinet Waxflower Looks Like
The Freycinet waxflower is a small, upright shrub. It usually grows to about 40 centimeters (16 inches) tall. Its leaves are quite interesting. They are tough and leathery, shaped like a heart or an egg. The narrower part of the leaf is at its base. These leaves are about 9 to 13 millimeters long and 8 to 13 millimeters wide. The underside of the leaves feels a bit bumpy, like it has small warts.
Its Flowers
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk, about 1 to 2 millimeters long. The flowers have small, rounded green parts called sepals, which are about 1 millimeter long. They also have five broad, white petals. These petals are about 8 to 10 millimeters long and 4 to 5 millimeters wide. Inside the flower, there are ten flattened stamens, which are about 2.7 to 4 millimeters long.
When it Flowers
You can see the Freycinet waxflower bloom in two main periods. It flowers from April to May and again from September to October. After flowering, it produces a small fruit, which is about 4 millimeters long.
How it Got its Name
The Freycinet waxflower, Philotheca freyciana, was officially described in 2001. A scientist named Andrew Carl Frank Rozefelds gave it its name. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. The first plants studied were found on Mount Amos, which is in Freycinet National Park.
Where it Lives
This special plant grows in cracks in granite rocks. It likes dry, open areas with scattered bushes. The Freycinet waxflower is only found in one specific place. That place is The Hazards mountain range, located within Freycinet National Park in Tasmania.
Protecting This Plant
The Freycinet waxflower is considered an "endangered" species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. Both the Australian and Tasmanian governments have laws to protect it.
What Threatens it
Several things make it hard for this plant to survive:
- Drought: Not enough rain can make the plants stressed and dry out.
- Animals: Native animals sometimes eat the plants, which can harm them.
- Fires: The wrong kind of bushfires can damage or destroy their habitat.
- Collection: Some people illegally collect the plants, which is against the law and hurts the species.
