Philotheca gardneri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philotheca gardneri |
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| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Philotheca
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| Species: |
gardneri
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Philotheca gardneri is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Rutaceae family. This family includes plants like citrus fruits. This plant is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It has many narrow, club-shaped or roundish leaves. Its white flowers have a clear pink stripe down the middle. These flowers usually grow one by one at the ends of its branches.
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About Philotheca gardneri
Philotheca gardneri is a shrub that can grow between 1 and 1.5 meters (about 3 to 5 feet) tall. Its small branches feel a bit like cork.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant can be shaped in a few ways. Some are like tiny cylinders or narrow clubs, about 5 to 8 millimeters long. Others are more or less round, about 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
The flowers usually grow one at a time at the very ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a short, fleshy stalk called a pedicel, which is about 1 to 2 millimeters long.
Each flower has five egg-shaped sepals, which are small leaf-like parts that protect the bud. These are about 1.5 millimeters long. There are also five white petals, each about 6 millimeters long. A cool feature is the bright pink stripe running down the middle of each white petal. Inside the flower, you'll find ten hairy stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
This plant blooms, or flowers, from April to October.
How it Got its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1970 by a scientist named Paul Wilson. He first named it Eriostemon gardneri. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant specimens he studied were collected by another botanist, Charles Gardner, near Jerramungup in 1939.
Later, in 1998, Paul Wilson changed the plant's name to Philotheca gardneri in the same journal. He also described two slightly different types, called subspecies:
- Philotheca gardneri subsp. gardneri: This type has narrow, club-shaped leaves that are 5 to 8 millimeters long.
- Philotheca gardneri subsp. globosa: This type has leaves that are more or less round, about 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
The name gardneri honors Charles Gardner, who collected the first plant samples. The word globosa refers to the round shape of the leaves in that subspecies.
Where Philotheca gardneri Grows
The two subspecies of Philotheca gardneri grow in different areas of Western Australia.
Subspecies gardneri's Home
The subspecies gardneri grows in areas with mallee (a type of eucalyptus forest) and heathland. You can find it between towns like Wagin, Howick Hill, and Bruce Rock. These areas are part of the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, and Mallee biogeographic regions.
Subspecies globosa's Home
The subspecies globosa grows in heathland in a smaller area. It can be found between Ravensthorpe and Norseman.
Protecting the Plant
Scientists and conservation groups keep an eye on how many of these plants are left in the wild.
Conservation Status of Subspecies gardneri
The subspecies gardneri is currently classified as "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants in the wild that they are not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
Conservation Status of Subspecies globosa
However, the subspecies globosa is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This is a special category for plants that are known from only a few places and might be at risk. This means they need extra attention and protection to make sure they survive.
