Long pink-bells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long pink-bells |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tetratheca
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| Species: |
stenocarpa
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Tetratheca stenocarpa, commonly known as long pink-bells, is a small shrub in the family Elaeocarpaceae. It is native to Victoria in Australia.
Contents
About the Long Pink-Bells Shrub
What Does Long Pink-Bells Look Like?
The long pink-bells plant is a small shrub. It can grow from 1 to 1.5 meters (about 3 to 5 feet) tall. It also spreads out from 0.5 to 1 meter (about 1.5 to 3 feet) wide. Its branches can grow flat along the ground or hang down.
Its leaves are shaped like triangles or are rounded. They have tiny teeth along their edges. These leaves are usually 5 to 12 millimeters long and wide. On older parts of the plant, especially where flowers grow, the leaves might look like small scales. You will often see the main leaves on younger parts of the plant.
The flowers of the long pink-bells are bell-shaped. They can be pale to deep lilac-pink, but sometimes they are white. These pretty flowers usually appear between July and January in Australia. They grow in small groups of 1 to 3 flowers. Each flower cluster sits on a small stalk called a petiole. These stalks are covered in many tiny, sticky hairs.
How is it Different from Similar Plants?
This plant looks a lot like another species called Tetratheca ciliata. The main difference is in the flower stalks. Tetratheca ciliata has stalks with only a few sticky hairs, while long pink-bells has many.
How Was Long Pink-Bells Named?
The long pink-bells plant was first officially described in 1957. A scientist named James Hamlyn Willis gave it its formal name, Tetratheca stenocarpa. He wrote about it in a science magazine called The Victorian Naturalist. Mr. Willis actually found this plant himself in 1952. He discovered it near a place called Gembrook.
Where Does Long Pink-Bells Grow?
This plant grows in only a few specific places. It likes damp forests in hilly areas east of Melbourne. You can also find it on French Island. There is also a separate group of these plants in Gisborne.
Because it grows in so few places, the long pink-bells plant is considered rare in Victoria. This means there are not many of them left in the wild. Luckily, this plant can grow well in places where the ground has been disturbed. So, you might often see it growing on exposed road cuttings.
How to Grow Long Pink-Bells
The long pink-bells plant produces many flowers. It is a good choice for gardens, especially in moist, shady spots. You can plant it under larger trees where it gets some shade. It also looks great at the top of retaining walls, letting its branches hang down. This plant is also a nice addition to a cottage garden style.
