Spade flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spade flower |
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| Flower and leaf of Hybanthus stellarioides | |
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Hybanthus
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| Species: |
stellarioides
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Hybanthus stellarioides, often called the spade flower, is a small plant that grows every year. It belongs to the Hybanthus family and is naturally found in Australia.
Contents
Discovering the Spade Flower
What Does the Spade Flower Look Like?
The spade flower is a type of plant called an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies, all within one year. It can grow up to about 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) tall. Its stem has a few scattered hairs on it.
Its leaves are interesting because they have two different colors, one on the top and one on the bottom. They also curve backward slightly. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or have small teeth. These leaves are usually between 1 and 8 centimeters long and 2 to 8 millimeters wide.
Spade Flower's Unique Blooms
The flowers of the spade flower grow one by one. They are usually bright orange or yellow. The most noticeable part is the large lower petal, which is shaped like a spoon or a spade, giving the plant its common name. The other petals, located at the top and sides, are long and narrow, about 3 to 5 millimeters long.
After the flower blooms, it forms a small fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 5.5 to 7.5 millimeters long and holds 5 to 10 seeds inside. The spade flower typically blooms during the summer months.
Naming the Spade Flower
How Hybanthus stellarioides Got Its Name
The spade flower, Hybanthus stellarioides, was first described in 1928 by a scientist named K. Domin. He originally called it Hybanthus enneaspermus var. stellarioides. Later, in 1993, another scientist named P.I. Forster gave it its current official name, Hybanthus stellarioides. This is how plants sometimes get their scientific names changed as scientists learn more about them.
Where the Spade Flower Grows
Spade Flower's Natural Home
The spade flower likes to grow in sandy areas. You can often find it in places where Eucalyptus trees are common. It is found across a wide area in New South Wales, especially along the North Coast and Central Coast regions. It also grows along the east coast of Queensland.
