Variable smoke-bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Variable smoke-bush |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Conospermum
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| Species: |
taxifolium
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List
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The Conospermum taxifolium, also known as the variable smoke-bush, yew-leaf smoke bush, or paint brush, is a cool plant from the Proteaceae family. It's a type of shrub that grows straight up. You can only find it in eastern Australia, which means it's endemic there. This plant has long, narrow leaves and pretty cream-colored or white flowers shaped like tubes.
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What Does the Variable Smoke-Bush Look Like?
The variable smoke-bush is a shrub that stands tall. It has branches that look a bit like rods. This plant can grow up to about 1.5 meters (that's about 5 feet) high.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are usually narrow and can be a bit twisted. They are about 5 to 30 millimeters long and 1 to 3 millimeters wide. That's pretty small!
The flowers are super interesting. They grow in groups called panicles at the ends of the branches. These flower groups are about 10 to 30 millimeters wide. Each flower sits directly on the stem (this is called being sessile). At the bottom of each flower, there's a small bluish leaf-like part called a bract, which is about 3 millimeters long.
The flowers themselves are shaped like tubes. They are white to cream-colored and about 6 to 7 millimeters long. The outside of the flowers is usually a bit hairy. The top part of the flower looks like a little sac, and the bottom part has three small sections, or lobes.
Flowering and Fruit
You can see these beautiful flowers from August to November. After the flowers bloom, they turn into small, hairy fruits. These fruits are called nuts and are about 2 to 3 millimeters long.
How Was the Variable Smoke-Bush Named?
The scientific name Conospermum taxifolium was first officially written down in 1807. A scientist named Karl Friedrich von Gaertner described it. He put his description in a book called Supplementum Carpologicae, which was written by Joseph Gaertner.
Where Does the Variable Smoke-Bush Grow?
The variable smoke-bush loves to grow in special places. You can find it in areas called heathlands and woodlands. It lives along the coast and in the nearby mountain ranges. Sometimes, it even grows a bit further inland. This plant is very common across a wide area. It grows from southern Queensland, through eastern New South Wales, and all the way to the far eastern part of Victoria.
