Philotheca myoporoides subsp. euroensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philotheca myoporoides subsp. euroensis |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Philotheca |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
P. m. subsp. euroensis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Philotheca myoporoides subsp. euroensis Bayly
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Philotheca myoporoides subsp. euroensis is a special type of flowering plant found only in a small part of Victoria, Australia. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits! This plant is a small shrub with unique curved, oval-shaped leaves. Its pretty white or pink flowers grow either by themselves or in small groups of up to four, right where the leaves meet the stem.
What it Looks Like
This plant, Philotheca myoporoides subsp. euroensis, is an open shrub. It usually grows to about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) (about 3 feet) tall. Its stems are smooth and have many small, wart-like glands, sometimes with a maroon color.
The leaves feel leathery and are shaped like wide ovals. They are about 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) long and 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) wide. You'll notice they are often folded lengthwise.
The flowers are quite interesting! They grow either alone or in small clusters of up to four. These clusters appear where the leaves join the stem. Each flower sits on a thin stalk called a pedicel, which is 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long. At the base of each flower, there are three or four small leaf-like parts called bracteoles.
The sepals, which are the small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud, are round or egg-shaped and about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The petals are oval-shaped and can be white or pink, measuring 5–7.5 mm (0.20–0.30 in) long. Inside the flower, the stamens (the parts that produce pollen) are separate from each other and have tiny hairs.
This plant blooms from May to November. When it forms fruit, the fruit has a noticeable beak-like shape.
How it Got its Name
This subspecies was officially named in 1998 by a scientist named Michael Bayly. He described it for the first time in a science journal called Muelleria.
Where it Lives
You can only find Philotheca myoporoides subsp. euroensis in a few small areas. It grows near large granite rocks in the Strathbogie Ranges, close to a town called Euroa in central-eastern Victoria. This means it is endemic to that specific region, so it doesn't naturally grow anywhere else in the world!
