Richea dracophylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richea dracophylla |
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| Richea dracophylla in Collinsvale, Tasmania | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Richea
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| Species: |
dracophylla
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| Synonyms | |
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Cystanthe dracophylla (R.Br.) Kuntze |
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Richea dracophylla is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the plant family called Ericaceae. This plant is only found in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. This means it is "endemic" to Tasmania, growing naturally nowhere else in the world!
What Does It Look Like?
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The Richea dracophylla is usually a tall, thin shrub. It can grow up to 5 metres (about 16 feet) high. But it is often a bit shorter than that. Its branches do not spread out much.
The leaves of this plant grow in a spiral shape around the stems. Each leaf can be about 22 centimetres (almost 9 inches) long. They get narrower and come to a point at the end. In the spring, you can see many white flowers. These flowers grow in tight groups at the very ends of the branches.
Who Discovered This Plant?
A botanist named Robert Brown was the first to officially describe this plant. He did this in 1810. He wrote about it in his book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. He found the plants he studied on Mount Wellington in Tasmania.
Growing This Plant
People in Tasmania have tried to grow Richea dracophylla in gardens. It seems that growing new plants from seeds works better. It is harder to grow new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant).
