Philotheca pachyphylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philotheca pachyphylla |
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| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Philotheca
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| Species: |
pachyphylla
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Philotheca pachyphylla is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits! This plant is only found in Western Australia. It's a small bush with thick, oval-shaped leaves. These leaves have tiny bumps, like warts, that are actually glands. Its pretty white flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem.
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What Does It Look Like?
Philotheca pachyphylla is a shrub, which means it's a woody bush. It usually grows to be about 0.3 to 1.5 meters tall. That's like a small person or a tall teenager! As the branches get older, their bark becomes a bit corky.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are quite unique. They are thick and feel a bit fleshy. Each leaf is oval-shaped, about 3 to 5 millimeters long and 1.5 to 2 millimeters wide. On the underside, they have clear, bumpy glands that look like tiny warts.
The flowers are white and grow one at a time. Each flower has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, which is about 2 to 3 millimeters long. There are five egg-shaped sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are about 1.5 millimeters long. The five white petals are broadly oblong and about 5 millimeters long. Inside the flower, there are ten stamens. These are the parts that produce pollen. They are separate from each other and covered in dense, woolly hairs.
When Does It Flower?
You can see Philotheca pachyphylla in bloom from May to September.
How It Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1970. A scientist named Paul G. Wilson gave it the name Eriostemon pachyphyllus. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. He studied plant samples that were collected near Coolgardie in 1962 by Marie Elizabeth Phillips. Later, in 1998, Paul Wilson decided to change the plant's name to Philotheca pachyphylla in the same journal.
Where Does It Live?
Philotheca pachyphylla grows in a specific type of soil. It likes sandy loam, which is a mix of sand and clay. You can find it on flat, sandy areas called sandplains, or on top of hills. It grows west of Coolgardie and in the Bremer Range. These areas are part of the Coolgardie biogeographic region in Western Australia.
Protecting This Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Philotheca pachyphylla as "Priority One". This means it's a very important plant to protect! It is known to grow in only a few places, and these locations could be at risk. Protecting these areas helps make sure this unique plant can continue to thrive.
