Phymatocarpus interioris facts for kids

Phymatocarpus interioris is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. You can only find it growing naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.

This plant looks a lot like many small types of Melaleuca plants. The main difference is how its anthers are attached to the stamens. Anthers are the parts of a flower that hold pollen. In Phymatocarpus interioris, the anthers are attached at their bottom and open up at the top through two small slits.

This plant is a shrub, which is a type of bushy plant. It grows many small clusters of flowers. These flowers are usually pink to purple, but they can fade to white. They often cover the whole plant for several weeks during spring. Phymatocarpus interioris is very similar to another plant called Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus. Scientists only recognized it as a new species in 1999.

What Does It Look Like?

Phymatocarpus interioris is a shrub that can grow upright or spread out. It sometimes reaches about 2 m (7 ft) tall and wide.

Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are about 4.4–9.2 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3.0–7.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. The leaves are shaped like a wide egg and have 5 to 9 visible lines, or veins, on them.

The Flowers

The flowers of Phymatocarpus interioris are pink to purple. They grow in tight, round clusters. Each cluster has 2 to 6 groups of flowers, with three flowers in each group. These clusters grow at the ends of branches. The branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom.

Unlike its close relative, P. porphyrocephalus, this plant does not have bracts at the base of its flowers. Bracts are like small, leaf-like structures.

Each flower has 5 sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. It also has 5 petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower. There are 23 to 30 stamens in each flower. Stamens are the parts that produce pollen. For comparison, P. porphyrocephalus has many more stamens, usually 46 to 71. The stamens on Phymatocarpus interioris are all joined together in a circle around the edge of each flower.

When It Flowers and Fruits

This plant usually flowers from September to November. After the flowers bloom, they turn into fruits. These fruits are woody capsules. Capsules are dry fruits that open to release seeds. The capsules grow in round clusters. Their outer surface feels rough or lumpy.

How It Got Its Name

The plant Phymatocarpus interioris was officially described in 1999. It was named by a scientist named Lyndley Craven. He wrote about it in a scientific journal called Muelleria.

Where Does It Grow?

Phymatocarpus interioris grows in a specific area of Western Australia. You can find it in and between the Lake King and Peak Charles areas. This region is known as the Mallee biogeographic region. It prefers to grow in sandy soil.

Is It Safe?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Phymatocarpus interioris. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.