Philotheca langei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philotheca langei |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Philotheca
|
| Species: |
langei
|
Philotheca langei is a type of flowering plant in the Rutaceae family. It is found only in a small part of Western Australia. This plant is a small shrub with unique leaves and pretty white flowers.
Contents
About the Plant: Philotheca langei
Philotheca langei is a shrub that can grow up to about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. Its stems have tiny bumps, like warts, that contain glands.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are narrow and shaped like a club. They are about 4 to 6 millimeters long and also have small, glandular bumps. The top surface of the leaves has a groove.
The flowers are white and grow either alone or in groups of two or three. They appear at the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a small stalk about 3 millimeters long.
The flowers have five fleshy, egg-shaped parts called sepals, which are about 1 millimeter long. They also have five white, oval-shaped petals, each about 4 millimeters long, with a pink stripe in the middle. There are ten stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen. Each stamen has a noticeable white tip on its pollen-holding part.
Flowering Time and Fruit
Philotheca langei flowers in August. After flowering, it produces a fruit that is about 3 millimeters long and has a small, pointed tip.
Naming and Discovery
How Philotheca langei Got Its Name
The plant Philotheca langei was officially named and described in 1993. This was done by a scientist named Frans Hendricus Mollemans. He wrote about it in a scientific journal called Nuytsia. Mollemans found the first samples of this plant in the Chiddarcooping Hill Nature Reserve.
The second part of its scientific name, langei, was chosen to honor another botanist, Robert T. Lange.
Where It Grows
Habitat and Location
This type of philotheca plant grows in yellow sand. It is often found near granite rocks. Most of these plants are located near Chiddarcooping Hill. There has also been one finding near the town of Merredin.
Protecting Philotheca langei
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Philotheca langei a special status called "Priority One". This means that the plant is known to exist in only a few places. Because of this, these locations and the plants themselves might be in danger, so they need special protection.
