Tassel flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tassel flower |
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| Leucopogon verticillatus in Beelu National Park. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leucopogon
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| Species: |
verticillatus
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The tassel flower (Leucopogon verticillatus) is a unique plant found in Western Australia. It's known for being the tallest plant of its kind, called an "epacrid," in the region. Epacrids are a group of flowering plants, and the tassel flower stands out because it can grow quite tall. Its interesting shape, which looks a bit like bamboo, made it the first plant from Western Australia to be sent all the way to Japan. In Japan, people use it to create beautiful flower arrangements. A famous Scottish botanist named Robert Brown first described this plant in his book in 1810.
About the Tassel Flower
What it Looks Like
The tassel flower has leaves that grow in circles, or "whorls," around its main stem. There are small gaps of about 3 to 6 centimeters between these leaf circles. The leaves are usually a light green color, sometimes with a hint of yellow or orange. You can also see clear veins on the leaves. The plant gets its name from its small flowers, which grow in bunches that look like tassels. These flowers can be pink or red.
Where it Grows
This plant grows in the southwest part of Western Australia. It likes to live in forests with trees like Karri, Jarrah, and Tingle trees. It prefers soils that are heavy. The tassel flower usually grows as an understorey plant, which means it lives underneath taller trees. It likes to have some shade, but it can also grow in full sunlight if it gets enough water.
Growing Tassel Flower
It can be quite tricky to grow the tassel flower outside of its natural home. It grows very slowly from cuttings, and trying to grow it from seeds has not worked well so far. To help it grow, it might need special soils that have a lot of laterite, which is a type of soil rich in iron and aluminum. It may also need certain leaf litter to help a special type of fungus grow. This fungus, called a mycorrhizal fungus, helps the plant get nutrients from the soil.
