Spur velleia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spur velleia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Velleia
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| Species: |
paradoxa
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| Collections data for V. paradoxa from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Velleia paradoxa, also known as spur velleia, is a small plant found only in Australia. It's a type of herb that lives for many years, not just one season. This plant is special because it's endemic to Australia, meaning it naturally grows nowhere else in the world! You can find it in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and southern Queensland.
Contents
All About the Spur Velleia
This interesting plant belongs to a group of plants called the Goodeniaceae family. It has a soft, fuzzy feel because it's covered in tiny hairs.
Where the Spur Velleia Lives
Velleia paradoxa likes to grow in specific places. You can often find it in sclerophyll forests, which are forests with tough, hard-leaved trees. It also grows in open grasslands.
What the Plant Looks Like
The leaves of the spur velleia are shaped like ovals or long ellipses. They can be anywhere from 7 to 25 centimeters (about 3 to 10 inches) long. This plant usually shows its flowers between August and February, which is late winter to late summer in Australia.
How the Spur Velleia Got Its Name
The Velleia paradoxa was first officially described in 1810 by a famous botanist named Robert Brown. He gave it the name Velleia paradoxa, and this name has stayed the same ever since.
There are also two slightly different types, or varieties, of this plant:
- V. paradoxa var. humilis
- V. paradoxa var. stenoptera
These varieties are like different versions of the same plant, each with small unique features.
