Tree hovea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tree hovea |
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Hovea
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H. elliptica
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| Hovea elliptica (Sm.) DC.
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Hovea elliptica, often called the tree hovea or karri blue bush, is a beautiful plant from the Fabaceae family. This family includes peas and beans. It grows naturally in Western Australia and is known for its pretty purple or blue flowers.
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What it Looks Like
This plant can be a tall, thin shrub or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 0.4 to 3 meters (1 to 10 feet) tall. Its young branches are covered in soft, often rust-colored hairs.
The leaves are shaped like an oval and can be up to 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) long. They grow one after another along the stem.
The flowers are purple or blue and look like small peas. They grow in small groups where the leaves meet the stem. You can see these lovely flowers from August to December in Western Australia. After the flowers, small, oval-shaped seed pods appear. These pods are about 0.8 to 1.2 centimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. Inside, they hold olive-brown seeds.
How it Got its Name
Scientists give plants special names to help identify them. Hovea elliptica was first named Poiretia elliptica in 1808 by a scientist named James Edward Smith.
Later, in 1825, another botanist, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, moved it to the group of plants called Hovea. This is how it got its current scientific name, Hovea elliptica.
Where it Grows Naturally
The tree hovea grows in the South West and Great Southern parts of Western Australia. It likes to grow on sand dunes, hills, and rocky areas. You can find it in soils that are clay, sandy, or gravelly, especially if they have lots of organic matter.
It often grows under taller trees like jarrah, marri, and karri trees. It shares its home with other plants like Bossiaea aquifolium and Hovea chorizemifolia.
Growing Your Own Tree Hovea
You can buy Hovea elliptica as young plants or as seeds. The seeds are easy to grow, but they need a little help to sprout. You can scratch them gently or soak them in hot water first.
This plant likes soil that drains water well, so it doesn't get too soggy. It grows best in a sunny spot or a place with some shade. Once it's grown, it can handle dry weather, but it doesn't like frost.
See also
In Spanish: Hovea elliptica para niños
