Shrubby velvet bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrubby velvet bush |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lasiopetalum
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| Species: |
macrophyllum
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| Synonyms | |
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Lasiopetalum dasyphyllum Sieber ex Steetz nom. inval. |
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The Shrubby velvet bush (scientific name: Lasiopetalum macrophyllum) is a common plant found in eastern Australia. It belongs to the mallow family. This shrub can grow up to one metre tall. A cool fact about it is that much of the plant is covered in soft, rusty-coloured hairs! You can find it growing in forests, woodlands, and open heathland areas.
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Discovering the Shrubby Velvet Bush
The Shrubby velvet bush was first officially described in 1841. A Scottish plant expert named Robert Graham was the one who gave it its scientific name.
Its species name, macrophyllum, comes from a Latin word. It means "large-leaved," which is a good hint about what its leaves look like!
What Does It Look Like?
The Shrubby velvet bush is a plant that can grow upright or spread out. It can reach up to 2 metres (about 6.5 feet) tall and 4 metres (about 13 feet) wide.
- Hairy New Growth: When new parts of the plant grow, they are covered in noticeable red-brown hairs.
- Leaves: The leaves are shaped like oblongs, lances, or even hearts. They are usually between 5 to 12 centimetres (2 to 4.7 inches) long. They are also 1 to 4 centimetres (0.4 to 1.6 inches) wide. The leaves can be smooth or have a few fine hairs. You can see the veins clearly on both sides of the leaves. On the underside, these veins are raised and have a rusty colour.
- Flowers: This plant flowers from August to December. The small groups of flowers are very hairy. The outer parts of the flowers, called calyces, are rusty-coloured and hairy on the outside. But on the inside, they are creamy white and smooth. This smooth inside helps tell it apart from a similar plant called the Rusty velvet bush.
Where Does It Grow?
The Shrubby velvet bush grows across a wide area in Australia. You can find it in central New South Wales, all the way down into Victoria, and even in Tasmania. It also grows on islands in the Bass Strait.
It prefers to live in certain types of environments:
- Forests: It is common in sclerophyll forests, which have tough-leaved plants.
- Heathlands: These are open areas with low-growing shrubs.
- Soil: It likes to grow in sandy soils.
You might notice that the plant looks different depending on where it grows. In more open, windy places, it tends to be a spreading shrub. But in sheltered spots or gullies, it can grow taller.
Growing Shrubby Velvet Bush in Your Garden
The Shrubby velvet bush was first brought to gardens in England back in 1835. People like to grow it because its new, rust-coloured growth looks very pretty.
- Easy to Grow: It grows quite easily in gardens. It prefers a spot with some shade, not full sun all day.
- How to Plant: You can start new plants from seeds or by taking cuttings from an existing plant.
- Conditions: It needs soil that drains water well. It can handle both sunny and partly shaded spots. This plant is also good with frost, meaning it can survive cold temperatures.
- Fire Resistant: Interestingly, it has also been found to be somewhat resistant to fire.
