Zieria exsul facts for kids

Zieria exsul is a special plant that belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. It only grows in a small part of southeast Queensland, Australia. This plant is a bit like a small, spread-out bush with fuzzy branches. Its leaves have three parts, and it grows pretty white flowers. These flowers often appear in groups of up to twelve. Each flower has four petals and four stamens (the parts that make pollen).

What Does Zieria Exsul Look Like?

Zieria exsul is a small, open shrub that can grow up to 60 cm (20 in) tall. It has branches that feel smooth but are covered in fine hairs.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of this plant have three parts. Each leaf has a small stem called a petiole, which is about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. The middle part of the leaf is shaped like an egg. It is about 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The other two parts of the leaf are a little smaller. The top side of the leaf has a few hairs. However, the bottom side is very hairy with tiny, star-shaped hairs that look like wool.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are white and grow either alone or in groups of up to twelve. They grow from the axils (the spot where a leaf meets the stem). Each group of flowers grows on a smooth stalk that is 10–19 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long. These flower groups are usually longer than the leaves.

The sepals, which are small leaf-like parts under the flower, are shaped like triangles. They are about 1 mm (0.04 in) long and wide. The four petals are oval-shaped, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide. The four stamens, which produce pollen, are very short, less than 1 mm (0.04 in) long.

Flowering and Reproduction

Zieria exsul usually flowers between August and September. After the flowers bloom, they produce a fruit. This fruit is a smooth capsule (a dry fruit that opens to release seeds). It is about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. This plant looks a lot like another plant called Zieria compacta. However, Zieria exsul is more spread out, and its flower stalks are smooth.

How Zieria Exsul Got Its Name

The plant Zieria exsul was first officially described in 2007. Two scientists, Marco Duretto and Paul Forster, wrote about it after finding a sample near Caloundra. Their description was published in a science journal called Austrobaileya.

Meaning of the Name

The second part of its scientific name, exsul, comes from a Latin word. It means "a banished person" or "an exile." This name was chosen because the plant has lost most of the areas where it used to grow. It's like it has been pushed out of its original home.

Where Does Zieria Exsul Live?

This special zieria plant grows in specific types of natural areas. You can find it in woodlands and a type of heathland called wallum heathland. These areas are located near the towns of Buderim and Caloundra. Both of these places are in the South East Queensland biogeographic region of Australia.

Is Zieria Exsul in Danger?

Yes, Zieria exsul is considered to be in danger. The Queensland government has listed it as "endangered" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means there are very few of these plants left, and they need special protection to survive.