Tiny thomasia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tiny thomasia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thomasia
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| Species: |
pygmaea
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| Synonyms | |
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Asterochiton pygmaeus Turcz. |
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The Thomasia pygmaea, also called the tiny thomasia, is a small, pretty shrub. It grows only in the southwestern part of Western Australia. This plant is special because it's found nowhere else in the world!
What Does it Look Like?
This plant is a small shrub. It usually grows between 5 and 30 centimeters (about 2 to 12 inches) tall. It produces beautiful flowers from August to November in its natural home. These flowers are a lovely pinkish-mauve color. They also have tiny red dots on them, making them even more interesting to look at.
How it Got its Name
The tiny thomasia was first officially described by a botanist named Nicolai Stepanovitch Turczaninow. He wrote about it in a science paper in 1806. At first, he gave it the name Asterochiton pygmaeus. Later, in 1863, another botanist named George Bentham moved the plant to a different group, the Thomasia genus. That's how it got its current name, Thomasia pygmaea.
Growing Your Own Tiny Thomasia
The tiny thomasia is a very attractive small shrub. It's great for different uses in a garden. You can use it to create a border or "edging" around garden beds. It also grows well in pots or containers. If you have a rock garden, this plant fits right in!
To grow it, the plant needs soil that is light and drains water well. This means the water should not sit around the roots. It can also handle some shade. Plus, it's tough enough to survive a light frost, which is when the temperature drops just below freezing.
