Ridged noon-flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ridged noon-flower |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sarcozona
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| Species: |
bicarinata
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The Sarcozona bicarinata, often called the ridged noon-flower, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Aizoaceae family and grows only in Australia. This plant is a small shrub with unique leaves that look like triangles. Its flowers are similar to daisies, with many petal-like parts and stamens.
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What the Ridged Noon-Flower Looks Like
The ridged noon-flower is a straight, juicy shrub that usually grows to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall. It has smooth leaves that grow in pairs, one across from the other. These leaves wrap around the stem and are about 2.5 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long and 0.5 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.
The leaves are shaped like triangles if you cut them in half, but their sides are rounded, and the top is flat. The edges of the leaves often have a pink color.
The flowers grow either alone or in pairs. Two leaves are often joined together and partly cover the flowers. The flower's base, called the sepal tube, is shaped like a bell or cup and is about 0.5 to 1 centimeter long. It has four or five small parts called lobes.
Each flower has between 20 and 55 petal-like parts. Inside these, there are 20 to 50 white stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. There are also five styles, which are part of the plant's reproductive system. The part of the flower that holds the seeds, called the ovary, is also about 0.5 to 1 centimeter long and has two clear ridges.
This plant flowers from August to December. After flowering, it produces a juicy fruit that is a capsule, about 0.7 to 1.5 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long.
How it Got its Name
The ridged noon-flower was first officially described in 1969. A scientist named Stanley Thatcher Blake gave it its formal name, Sarcozona bicarinata. He wrote about it in a science journal called Contributions from the Queensland Herbarium. The plants he studied were collected by R.L. Specht near a place called Lock in South Australia.
Where the Ridged Noon-Flower Grows
You can find the ridged noon-flower in a few specific areas in Australia. It grows on the Yorke Peninsula and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. There are also records of it growing in the Swan Coastal Plain area in Western Australia.
Protecting the Ridged Noon-Flower
In Western Australia, the ridged noon-flower is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means that not much is known about this plant, and it only grows in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. This classification helps scientists and conservationists keep an eye on the plant and protect its habitats.
