Fleshy leaved rinzia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fleshy leaved rinzia |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rinzia
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| Species: |
carnosa
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The Rinzia carnosa, also known as the fleshy leaved rinzia, is a special plant found only in Western Australia. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes many well-known Australian plants like eucalyptus. This plant is considered "endemic," meaning it naturally grows nowhere else in the world.
What the Fleshy Leaved Rinzia Looks Like
This plant is a woody shrub that usually grows between 0.7 and 1.3 meters tall. That's about the height of a tall kid or a small adult! It has many branches with long, thin twigs.
Its leaves are quite unique. They are thick and small, only about 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters long and 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide. They are shaped like tiny ovals and feel a bit bumpy.
In September, the fleshy leaved rinzia puts on a show with its beautiful flowers. These flowers are white and pink and grow in small groups at the ends of the branches. Each flower is tiny, only about 5 to 7 millimeters across, and has five petals.
Where the Fleshy Leaved Rinzia Grows
You can find this plant in the southeastern part of Western Australia. It grows in areas like the Wheatbelt and the Goldfields-Esperance regions. Specifically, it lives in the land between the towns of Corrigin and Jerramungup.
The fleshy leaved rinzia prefers to grow in sandy or loamy soils, which are often found on top of granite rocks. It usually grows underneath taller plants, forming part of the lower layer of vegetation. You might find it in thick groups of Acacia shrubs, where it gets some shade and protection.
The Story of Its Name
The fleshy leaved rinzia was first officially described by a botanist named S.Moore in 1920. At that time, it was given the name Baeckea carnosa. This description was published in a science journal called the Journal of the Linnean Society.
Later, in 1986, another scientist decided that this plant actually fit better into a different group of plants called Rinzia. So, its name was changed to Rinzia carnosa. This new classification was published in a journal called Nuytsia. Scientists sometimes change plant names when they learn more about how different plants are related to each other.
