Grampians rice-flower facts for kids

The Grampians rice-flower (Pimelea pagophila) is a special kind of shrub. It belongs to the Thymelaeaceae plant family. This plant has white flowers that grow in round clusters at the end of its branches. Its green leaves grow in pairs. The Grampians rice-flower is found only in Victoria, Australia, which means it is endemic to that area.

What the Grampians Rice-Flower Looks Like

The Grampians rice-flower is a small shrub. It usually grows between 0.3 and 1.2 meters tall. That's about as tall as a small child or a grown-up's waist. Its stems are smooth, and you can easily see where the leaves attach.

The leaves are a medium green color. They grow in pairs on opposite sides of the branches. Each leaf is shaped like a narrow egg or an oval. They are about 7 to 20 millimeters long and 2 to 5 millimeters wide. The leaves are smooth and often look lighter green on their underside.

The flowers grow in a hanging, round cluster. This cluster is called an inflorescence. Each cluster has many individual white flowers. Around the flowers, there are 4, 6, or 8 special leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are thin and smooth. They can be light green, yellow-green, or sometimes a bit reddish.

The white flowers can have both male and female parts. The main part of the flower, called the floral tube, is about 14 to 15 millimeters long. It is smooth on the outside but hairy inside. The sepals, which are like small leaves at the base of the flower, spread out and are about 4 millimeters long. The Grampians rice-flower blooms from October to November.

How the Grampians Rice-Flower Got Its Name

The Grampians rice-flower was first officially described in 1990. This was done by a scientist named Barbara Lynette Rye. Her description was published in a book called Flora of Australia.

The second part of the plant's scientific name, pagophila, has a special meaning. It comes from two Greek words: pago, which means "hill or mountain," and philea, which means "to love." So, pagophila means "mountain-loving." This name was chosen because the plant loves to grow in mountain habitats.

Where the Grampians Rice-Flower Lives

The Grampians rice-flower grows in a very small area. It is found only on Mount William. This mountain is located inside the Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia. Because it grows only in this specific place, we say it has a "restricted distribution."

Protecting the Grampians Rice-Flower

The Grampians rice-flower is considered a "vulnerable" species. This means it is at risk of disappearing if we don't protect it. Its status is recognized under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This law helps protect plants and animals that are in danger in Australia.