Willi Willi zieria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willi Willi zieria |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zieria
|
| Species: |
lasiocaulis
|
The Zieria lasiocaulis, often called Willi Willi zieria, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the citrus family called Rutaceae. This plant is only found in one place, New South Wales in Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
The Willi Willi zieria is a tall shrub or a small tree. It has leaves made of three parts and small white flowers that are not very noticeable. You can only find this plant high up in mountains where it rains a lot. It is a rare species.
Contents
What Does Willi Willi Zieria Look Like?
The Willi Willi zieria is a tall shrub or a small tree. It can grow up to 6 m (20 ft) (about 20 feet) high. Its branches have tiny oil spots and smell very strong if you gently crush them. Younger branches are covered with soft, fine hairs.
Leaves and Flowers of the Zieria
The leaves of this plant have three smaller parts, called leaflets. The middle leaflet is shaped like an oval or a spear, wider in the middle and narrower at the bottom. It is about 40–60 mm (2–2 in) (1.5 to 2.5 inches) long and 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) (0.6 to 0.9 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stem, called a petiole, which is about 17–21 mm (0.7–0.8 in) (0.7 to 0.8 inches) long. The leaves are mostly smooth but also smell strong when crushed.
The flowers usually grow in large groups. These groups are shorter than the leaves. Each flower has four small, white petals that are about 4 mm (0.2 in) (0.16 inches) long. The petals overlap at their bases and have soft hairs on them. The plant flowers from late autumn through spring. After the flowers, smooth fruits appear in summer. These fruits also have tiny oil spots.
Where Does Willi Willi Zieria Grow?
The Willi Willi zieria lives in specific places in New South Wales, Australia. You can find it growing on rocky cliffs. It also grows along the edges of rainforests.
National Parks Where Zieria Lives
This special plant is found in a few national parks. These include the Willi Willi National Park, Werrikimbe National Park, and New England National Park. These parks help protect its natural home.
Why Is Willi Willi Zieria Endangered?
The Willi Willi zieria is considered "endangered." This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. Both New South Wales and the Australian government protect it under special laws. These laws are the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act.
The biggest danger to this plant is wildfires. If fires happen too often or at the wrong time, they can harm or destroy the plants. This makes it harder for the Willi Willi zieria to survive and grow. Protecting it from harmful fires is very important for its future.
