Trianthema compactum facts for kids

Trianthema compactum is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the plant family Aizoaceae. This plant is special because it only grows in a specific area. It is found near the coast in north-eastern Australia.

This plant is a small herb. It has leaves that are shaped like an oval or are almost round. Its flowers grow one by one. Each flower has five to seven stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. It also has a short, thick style, which is part of the plant's reproductive system.

What Trianthema compactum Looks Like

Trianthema compactum is a plant that grows low to the ground. It can also grow a bit upright. It has many branches. Its leaves are usually oval or round. They are about 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long and wide.

The flowers grow on a small stem called a pedicel. This stem is about 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long. At the bottom of the pedicel, there is a small, egg-shaped leaf called a bract.

The outer part of the flower, called the perianth tube, is about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. It has parts that look like small petals, called lobes, which are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. Each flower has five to seven stamens. These stamens are about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. The plant also has a short, thick style. This plant usually flowers from March to August.

How Trianthema compactum Got Its Name

The plant Trianthema compactum was first officially described in 1919. A scientist named Cyril Tenison White gave it its formal name. He wrote about it in a publication called the Botany Bulletin. This bulletin was from the Queensland Department of Agriculture.

Mr. White studied plant samples collected by John Frederick Bailey. These samples were found on Mornington Island.

Where Trianthema compactum Grows

This plant likes to grow on the shores. You can find it around the Gulf of Carpentaria. This area is located in the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.