Philotheca obovalis facts for kids

Philotheca obovalis is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits! This plant is special because it's endemic to New South Wales in Australia, meaning it only grows naturally there. It's a small bush with unique leaves shaped like a wide egg or a heart, and it has pretty white flowers with a hint of pink.

What Does It Look Like?

The Philotheca obovalis is a small bush that can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) (about 3 feet) tall. Its stems are a little bit hairy.

• Leaves: The leaves are shaped like a wide egg or a heart, with the narrower part at the bottom. They are about 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. The bottom side of the leaves feels a bit bumpy.
• Flowers: The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a small stalk called a pedicel, which is about 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. At the base of this stalk, there are six tiny leaf-like parts called bracteoles.
  • There are five round sepals, which are like small green leaves that protect the flower bud. They are about 1 mm (0.039 in) long.
  • The five petals are white with a touch of pink and are shaped like an oval, about 6 mm (0.24 in) long.
  • Inside the flower, there are ten stamens (the parts that make pollen), each about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and hairy.
• Flowering and Fruit: This plant usually blooms in spring. After flowering, it produces a fruit that is about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long.

How It Got Its Name

This plant was first officially described in 1825 by a botanist named Allan Cunningham. He first called it Eriostemon ovalis. He wrote about it in a book called Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales, in a chapter about the plants of the Blue Mountains. Cunningham found the first samples of this plant near a place called Regent's Glen in the Blue Mountains.

Later, in 1998, another botanist named Paul G. Wilson changed its name to Philotheca obovalis. This new name was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.

Where Does It Grow?

You can find Philotheca obovalis growing in areas with sandy soil, often in a type of open land called "heath." It mainly grows in the Blue Mountains region, which is in eastern New South Wales, Australia.