Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms → Eudicots → Asterids
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Goodeniaceae
- Genus: Goodenia
- Species: Goodenia kakadu B.J.Conn
The species was formally described by botanist B.J. Conn in 1990 [1]. The specific epithet kakadu references Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia, the region where the type specimens were collected.
Description
Goodenia kakadu is an erect or spreading herbaceous plant reaching up to 30 cm in height. Leaves are basal, ovate to lanceolate, and have entire margins. The inflorescences are racemes that bear bright yellow corollas typical of many Goodenia species. Flowers are actinomorphic with the characteristic cup‑shaped, five‑lobed corolla. Fruit is a narrowly elongated capsule containing numerous small seeds.
Distribution and Habitat
The species is endemic to the Northern Territory of Australia, known only from a few locations within Kakadu National Park. It grows on sandstone outcrops and in open woodland on well‑drained, sandy soils, often in association with other members of the Goodeniaceae and xerophytic understory species.
Conservation Status
According to the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Goodenia kakadu is listed as “Data Deficient” under the Territory’s conservation framework, reflecting limited information on its population size and trends. No assessment has been made by the IUCN Red List as of the latest available data.
References
- Conn, B.J. (1990). Goodenia kakadu (Goodeniaceae), a new species from the Northern Territory. Australian Systematic Botany, 3(2), 163–166.
- Northern Territory Flora Online, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2023.
Note: All information presented is based on published botanical literature and official governmental sources. No speculative statements are included.
