Zieria inexpectata facts for kids

Zieria inexpectata is a special plant that belongs to the citrus family, called Rutaceae. It's found only in a small part of south-eastern Queensland, Australia. This plant is a small, bushy shrub with straight, thin branches. Its leaves have three parts, and it grows groups of up to twelve white flowers. Each flower has four petals and four stamens. Scientists were surprised when they found this plant, which is why it's called "inexpectata" – meaning "unexpected." Its discovery helped them learn more about other similar plants in Queensland.

What Does It Look Like?

Zieria inexpectata is a small shrub that usually grows up to about 50 cm (20 in) tall. It has straight, thin branches that stand upright. These branches have a few hairs scattered on them.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this plant are made up of three smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets are narrow and shaped like an oval or a spear, getting narrower towards the bottom. The leaves have a small stem called a petiole, which is about 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long. The middle leaflet is about 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. Both sides of the leaflets feel a bit hairy.

The flowers are white and grow in groups of up to twelve. These groups appear where the leaves meet the stem, which is called a leaf axil. Each group of flowers grows on a stalk that is about 4–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long.

Flower Parts

The small green parts that protect the flower bud, called sepals, are shaped like an egg or a triangle. They are about 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The four white petals are oval-shaped, about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The top side of the petals has a few hairs, while the bottom side is very hairy. Inside the flower, there are four stamens, which are about 1 mm (0.04 in) long.

Flowering and Fruit

This plant usually blooms from March to November. After the flowers, it produces fruit starting in June. The fruit is a smooth, dry seed pod called a capsule. It's about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) wide.

How It Got Its Name

Zieria inexpectata was officially described for the first time in 2007. Two scientists, Marco Duretto and Paul Forster, found it. They wrote about it in a science journal called Austrobaileya.

The second part of its scientific name, inexpectata, means "unexpected." This is because the scientists found this plant by surprise. They were actually looking for a different plant called Boronia during a trip. Finding Zieria inexpectata led them to write a whole paper about the Zieria plants in Queensland, and they even described sixteen new species!

Where It Lives

This special Zieria plant grows in sandy soil. You can find it in woodlands in south-east Queensland. This includes areas like the central Burnett district, and near the towns of Proston and Wondai.

Why It Needs Protection

Zieria inexpectata is considered an "endangered" plant. This means it's at high risk of disappearing forever. The Queensland government protects it under a law called the Nature Conservation Act 1992. This law helps to keep rare and threatened plants and animals safe.