Rock wax-flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock wax-flower |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Philotheca
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| Species: |
trachyphylla
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The rock wax-flower (scientific name: Philotheca trachyphylla) is a special plant. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits like oranges! This plant is endemic to south-eastern Australia, meaning it naturally grows only in that area.
It can be a shrub or a small tree. Its leaves have tiny bumps, like warts, and are shaped like a narrow egg. The rock wax-flower has pretty white flowers. These flowers grow either alone or in small groups of two or three. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, which is called a leaf axil.
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What Does the Rock Wax-Flower Look Like?
The rock wax-flower is a shrub or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 2 to 7 meters (about 6 to 23 feet) tall. Its branches are round and have small, bumpy glands on them.
Leaves and Flowers of the Rock Wax-Flower
The leaves of this plant are usually 30 to 50 millimeters (about 1 to 2 inches) long. They are also 5 to 9 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.35 inches) wide. Their shape can be oblong, elliptical, or narrow egg-shaped. The edges of the leaves also have small, bumpy glands.
The flowers are white and grow on a short stalk called a pedicel. This stalk is about 6 to 12 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. Each flower has five round sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are about 1 millimeter long. The petals are also elliptical and are about 6 to 7 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. Inside the flower, there are ten stamens. These are thin and hairy, and they get narrower towards their tips.
Where the Rock Wax-Flower Grows
You can find the rock wax-flower growing on hillsides and in valleys. It lives in forests in two Australian states: New South Wales and Victoria.
In New South Wales, it mainly grows in the coastal mountain ranges. You can see it south of a town called Braidwood. In Victoria, it grows east of the area between Bruthen and Ensay.
How Scientists Named This Plant
The rock wax-flower was first officially described in 1855. A botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it the name Eriostemon trachyphyllus. He wrote about it in his book, Definitions of rare or hithertoo undescribed Australian Plants.
Later, in 1998, another scientist named Paul Wilson changed its name. He moved it to the Philotheca group, so its new name became Philotheca trachyphylla. He published this change in a science journal called Nuytsia.
