Pityrodia iphthima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pityrodia iphthima |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pityrodia
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| Species: |
iphthima
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| Occurrence data from the ALA | |
Pityrodia iphthima is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family, called Lamiaceae. You can only find this plant in a small part of Western Australia. It's a small bush, usually about 1 meter tall. Its branches, leaves, and even some flower parts are covered in soft, matted hairs. This plant has beautiful tube-shaped flowers. They are deep lilac and white, with cool brown spots inside. These flowers grow in groups of up to forty, looking like spikes at the end of the branches.
Contents
What it Looks Like
Pityrodia iphthima is a shrub that can grow up to about 1 m (3 ft) tall. Its branches are covered in thick, greenish-white hairs that look matted.
Leaves
The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the branches. They are 23–41 mm (0.9–2 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Their shape is like a narrow egg. The leaves are folded in a V-shape along their length. The top surface of the leaf is mostly smooth, while the bottom has star-shaped hairs, just like the branches.
Flowers
The flowers grow in groups that look like spikes. Each group can be 55–170 mm (2–7 in) long and hold between ten and forty flowers. Each flower sits on a short, woolly stalk.
At the base of each flower, there's a leaf-like part called a bract. There are also smaller parts called bracteoles. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are green with purple tips. They are 7.5–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and join at the bottom to form a short tube.
The petals are a deep lilac color that fades to white. They form a wide tube, 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long, with brown spots inside. The petals form two "lips." The top lip has two parts, and the bottom lip has three. The biggest part of the bottom lip is 5.3–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 6.5–10.5 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide.
The outside of the flower tube has a few hairs. Inside, it's mostly smooth, except for a ring of dense hairs around the ovary. The four stamens, which produce pollen, are usually hidden inside the tube. So far, these flowers have only been seen in August.
Naming and Discovery
This plant, Pityrodia iphthima, was first officially described in 2007. It was named by a scientist named Kelly Shepherd. She found a sample of the plant near Meekatharra, in the Robinson Ranges.
What the Name Means
The second part of its scientific name, iphthima, comes from an Ancient Greek word. It means "strong," "stout," or "stalwart." This name was chosen because the plant grows in a tough, rocky environment.
Where it Lives
This type of pityrodia plant grows on rocky hillsides. These hills are made of a special kind of rock called banded ironstone. You can find it in an area of Western Australia called the Gascoyne biogeographic region.
Conservation
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Pityrodia iphthima as "Priority One." This means that the plant is only found in one or a few places. These locations could be at risk, so it's very important to protect this special plant.
