Taxandria floribunda facts for kids

Taxandria floribunda is a special kind of small tree or shrub that grows only in a certain part of southern Western Australia. This plant used to be called Agonis floribunda, but scientists later decided it belonged to a different group, the Taxandria genus.

Discovering Taxandria floribunda

This plant is a shrub that stands upright, often with just one main stem. It can grow up to about 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall.

What Does It Look Like?

Taxandria floribunda shows off its beautiful white-pink flowers from October to December each year. What makes this plant unique are its flower clusters. They are surrounded by special leaf-like parts called involucral bracts. These bracts are easy to see and stay on the plant even after the flowers turn into fruits. They act like a protective wrap around both the flowers and the developing fruits.

Where Does It Grow?

You can find Taxandria floribunda in different places in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. It likes wet areas, like swamps or low spots where water collects. It also grows in stony places, especially in the northern part of the region, including the Stirling Range and around Cranbrook. It can grow in sandy, clay, or peaty soils that are found over a type of rock called quartzite.

How Was It Discovered?

This plant was first officially described by a botanist named Nikolai Turczaninow in 1849. He gave it the name Agonis floribunda. This description was part of his work published in a science bulletin. Later, in 2007, two other scientists, Wheeler and Marchant, studied the plant again. They decided it was different enough to be moved into a brand new group of plants, the Taxandria genus. That's why its name changed to Taxandria floribunda.