Success bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Success bell |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Darwinia
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| Species: |
nubigena
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The Success Bell (scientific name: Darwinia nubigena) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is found only in one place in the world: Western Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it is called endemic.
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What is the Success Bell?
The Success Bell is a type of shrub. A shrub is a woody plant that is smaller than a tree and has many branches. This shrub usually grows to be about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. It has a "straggly" look, which means its branches spread out in an open, somewhat messy way.
What Does the Success Bell Look Like?
The leaves of the Success Bell are dark green. They are very small, about 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) long. The leaves are almost "stalkless," meaning they don't have a small stem connecting them to the branch. They also have tiny hairs along their edges.
The plant blooms in October. This means it produces beautiful red flowers during that month. The flowers have special parts called "styles" that stick out from the flower's protective leaves, known as "floral bracts."
Where Does the Success Bell Live?
The Success Bell is very rare. It lives in only one small spot within the Stirling Range National Park in Western Australia. This special spot is on a "saddle" of a mountain. A saddle is a low area between two higher peaks on a mountain.
There is only one group, or "population," of these plants. Scientists believe there are about 10,000 individual Success Bell plants in this one area. Because it lives in such a small and specific place, it is considered a vulnerable species.
How Does the Success Bell Grow Back?
In April 1991, the area where the Success Bell lives was affected by a bushfire. Even though fires can be very damaging, the Success Bell plants showed amazing strength. They grew back very well from their seeds. After the fire, scientists found up to 100 new seedlings growing in just one square meter of land! This shows how resilient the Success Bell is.
