Xanthosia atkinsoniana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Xanthosia atkinsoniana |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Xanthosia
|
| Species: |
atkinsoniana
|
Xanthosia atkinsoniana is a small, interesting plant that belongs to the Apiaceae family. This family also includes well-known plants like carrots and parsley! This plant is a type of herb and can be found growing in two different parts of Australia: New South Wales and Western Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
Xanthosia atkinsoniana is an upright plant that can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. It's a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. When it's young, it has a few hairs, but as it gets older, it becomes smooth. The stems where the flowers grow usually have very few leaves.
Most of the leaves grow near the bottom of the plant. Each leaf has a stem (called a petiole) that is 2 to 12 centimeters long. The leaf blade itself is about 2 to 4 centimeters long and 1.5 to 4 centimeters wide. The leaves are divided into three main parts, and these parts are often divided again. If you look closely at the underside of the leaves, you might see some scattered, star-shaped hairs.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of Xanthosia atkinsoniana grow in clusters called umbels. Each cluster can have 16 to 36 flowers and sits on a strong stem (called a peduncle) that can be up to 40 centimeters long. The small, white, petal-like leaves (called bracteoles) near the flowers are 3 to 8 millimeters long.
The sepals, which are the small leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud, are about 1 to 1.6 millimeters long. The actual petals are white to a light pink color and are about 1.5 millimeters long. The base of the flower's style (a part of the female reproductive organ) is hairy and looks like a small disc.
After the flowers, the plant produces fruits that are 1.8 to 2.7 millimeters long. These fruits split into smaller parts called mericarps, which have 9 ridges on them.
When Does It Flower?
The flowering time for Xanthosia atkinsoniana depends on where it grows.
- In New South Wales, it flowers from September to April.
- In Western Australia, it flowers from October to December, or sometimes from January to April.
How It Got Its Name
Xanthosia atkinsoniana was first officially described in 1861 by a famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller.
The second part of its name, atkinsoniana, was chosen to honor Louisa Atkinson. She was a very important person who collected the first sample of this plant. She found it near the Grose River in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, along with W. Woolls. This is how the plant got its special name, celebrating her discovery!
