Woolly ragwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woolly ragwort |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Senecio
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| Species: |
garlandii
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| Distribution of Senecio garlandii | |
The Senecio garlandii, often called woolly ragwort, is a type of daisy plant. It grows naturally in southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria in Australia.
Contents
What Does Woolly Ragwort Look Like?
Woolly ragwort is a plant that stands upright, like a small bush. It can grow up to about 1.2 meters (nearly 4 feet) tall. Its stems and the underside of its leaves are covered in soft, white, fuzzy hairs, like cotton.
The leaves can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long and 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) wide. They have edges that look like tiny teeth. These leaves do not have stalks; instead, they wrap directly around the plant's stem.
Woolly ragwort has many small flowers that grow in groups, like sprays. After the flowers bloom, they turn into light brown fruits. These fruits have grooves and are also covered with fine, white hairs.
Where Does Woolly Ragwort Live?
This plant grows in dry sclerophyll forests and open woodlands. You can often find it on the protected slopes of rocky areas that face south or east. It lives in a region stretching from Wyalong in New South Wales to Chiltern, Victoria in Victoria.
Woolly ragwort can grow back after a disturbance, even without fire. However, fire actually helps its seeds sprout. Some parts of the plant can also regrow after a fire.
Protecting Woolly Ragwort
Woolly ragwort is a plant that needs protection because its numbers are low in some areas. When a plant is called 'vulnerable' or 'endangered', it means there are not many of them left, and they could disappear if we don't help them.
How Australia Protects It
The Australian government used to list woolly ragwort as 'Vulnerable'. This meant it was at risk of becoming extinct. However, in 2013, scientists looked at the plant again. They decided it was no longer 'Vulnerable' across all of Australia.
How New South Wales Protects It
In New South Wales, woolly ragwort is still listed as 'Vulnerable'. This means the state government has laws to help protect it.
How Victoria Protects It
In Victoria, the situation is more serious. Woolly ragwort is listed as 'Endangered'. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing from Victoria. The state has strong laws to protect it.
What is Being Done to Help Woolly Ragwort?
Good news! Woolly ragwort grows in several special protected areas. These places are like safe homes for the plant. They include:
- The Rock Nature Reserve in New South Wales
- Tabletop Nature Reserve in New South Wales
- Benambra National Park in New South Wales
- Ulandra Nature Reserve in New South Wales
- Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park in Victoria
These protected areas help make sure woolly ragwort has a safe place to grow and thrive for the future.
