Santa Clara thornmint facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Santa Clara thornmint
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acanthomintha
Species:	lanceolata

The Acanthomintha lanceolata, also known as the Santa Clara thornmint, is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family. This plant is found only in California, which means it is endemic there. You can find it in several counties around and south of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is not very common and usually grows in rocky areas, especially in mountains near the coast and further inland.

About the Santa Clara Thornmint

The Santa Clara thornmint is a small plant that grows for only one year. It can reach about 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall. The plant is covered in tiny, sticky hairs that produce a scent. Some people might find this smell a bit unpleasant.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of this plant are shaped like ovals. They are about 1 to 2 centimeters long. The edges of the leaves have small teeth. Like the rest of the plant, the leaves also have tiny, sticky hairs and can feel a bit spiny.

Flowers and Spines

The flowers of the Santa Clara thornmint grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. Around these flower clusters, there are special leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts have sharp spines that can be up to a centimeter long.

The flowers themselves are white or sometimes have a pink tint. They can grow up to 2.5 centimeters long. Each flower has two main parts, like lips, that form a deep cup shape. These parts are also covered in tiny, sticky hairs.

Where It Grows

This plant likes to grow in specific types of rocky soil. It is often found in areas with shale or serpentine scree. These are types of rocky ground where the soil is loose and made of small, broken pieces of rock.