Regelia inops facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Regelia inops |
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| Flowers and leaves | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Regelia
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| Species: |
inops
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca inops (Schauer) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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Regelia inops is a cool plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant is usually a shrub that stands upright, but it can also spread out. It has tiny, wedge-shaped leaves and pretty pink flowers. You can see these small flower heads at the ends of its branches during the warmer months.
Contents
What it Looks Like
Regelia inops is a shrub that often grows upright, but its branches can also spread out. It usually reaches a height of about 0.75 to 2.5 meters (2.5 to 8 feet).
Leaves
The leaves of this plant are arranged in a special way. They grow in pairs, with each pair at a right angle to the one below it. This makes them form four neat rows along the stems. The leaves are shaped like an egg or a triangle. They are quite small, only about 1 to 4 millimeters (0.04 to 0.16 inches) long. The bottom part of each leaf presses against the stem.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers are a lovely mauve (pinkish-purple) color. They grow in small groups at the very ends of the branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing! Sometimes, flowers also appear on smaller side branches. Each flower has 5 sepals (small leaf-like parts), 5 petals, and 5 groups of stamens. The stamens are the parts that give the flowers their bright color. They are about 6.5 millimeters (0.26 inches) long and are joined together for about half their length.
Regelia inops flowers during the warmer months. After the flowers fade, they turn into woody capsules. These fruits often grow in small, almost round clusters around the stem.
Plant Name and History
The plant Regelia inops was first officially described in 1848. This was done by a scientist named J.C.Schauer. He published his description in a science journal called Plantae Preissianae. Before this, he had given it a different name, Beaufortia inops.
The second part of its scientific name, inops, comes from a Latin word. It means "poor," "helpless," or "weak."
Where it Grows
This type of regelia plant is found in many different areas of Western Australia. You can see it in places like the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, and Swan Coastal Plain. It likes to grow in sandy soils, especially in flat areas called sandplains. It also grows in spots that can get wet during the winter.
How it is Protected
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants like Regelia inops. They have classified this plant as "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants, and they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
Using it in Gardens
Regelia inops is a great plant for gardens. Its leaves are neat, and its flowers are easy to see and very pretty. It's also quite easy to grow new plants from it. You can start new Regelia inops plants from seeds or by taking cuttings (small pieces of the plant) and planting them.
