Coveny's zieria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Covenyi's zieria |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zieria
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| Species: |
covenyi
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The Zieria covenyi, also known as the Coveny's zieria, is a special plant. It belongs to the citrus family called Rutaceae. This plant is only found in a small part of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia.
It is a shrub that grows straight up. It spreads by sending out new shoots from its roots, like a clone. The plant has leaves that look like a three-leaf clover. Its flowers are white to pink and grow in groups. Each flower has four petals and four stamens.
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What Does Coveny's Zieria Look Like?
Coveny's zieria is a shrub that stands tall. It usually grows up to 2 m (7 ft) high. This plant only makes new plants from its roots. This means it doesn't grow from seeds.
Leaves and Stems
Its branches and leaves have tiny star-shaped hairs. These hairs are easiest to see when the plant is young. The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. Each leaf has three smaller parts called leaflets. The middle leaflet is shaped like a heart. It is about 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. The stem that holds the leaflet, called a petiole, is 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long.
The top of the leaflets is dark green. They have tiny oil glands that you might not easily see. The bottom of the leaflets is grey-green and covered with soft hairs.
Flowers
The flowers are white or light pink. They are about 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. They grow in groups of 3 to 21 flowers. These groups appear where the leaves meet the stem. The flower clusters are about the same length as the leaves.
Each flower has small, triangular parts called sepals. These are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and covered in soft hairs. There are four petals, each about 6 mm (0.2 in) long. The petals overlap each other. They have hairs on the outside. Each flower also has four stamens, which are the parts that make pollen.
Coveny's zieria flowers from October to December. Even though insects visit the flowers, they don't seem to carry pollen that can make new seeds for this plant. Because of this, no fruit has ever been seen on these plants.
How it Got its Name
Coveny's zieria was officially named in 2002. It was described by a scientist named James Andrew Anderson. He found a sample of the plant near Bomaderry Creek. The description was then published in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
The plant's specific name, covenyi, honors Robert George Coveny. He was an Australian plant collector. He collected the first sample of this plant with James Armstrong.
Where Coveny's Zieria Lives
This special plant is only found in two small areas. These areas are on the Narrow Neck Peninsula in the Blue Mountains. There are about 270 plants in total. They grow in sandy soil in eucalypt woodlands.
Why Coveny's Zieria Needs Help
Coveny's zieria is listed as "Endangered." This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. Both New South Wales and the Australian government protect it under special laws.
Some things that threaten this plant include:
- Damage to its home from road work.
- Frequent bushfires, which can harm the plants.
- The plant's inability to grow new plants from seeds. This makes it harder for the species to recover.
