Acmispon argophyllus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acmispon argophyllus |
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Acmispon argophyllus, also known as the silver bird's-foot trefoil or silver lotus, is a type of plant in the pea family. It's a legume, which means it grows its seeds in pods, like peas or beans. This plant is native to California in the United States and parts of northwest Mexico.
It grows naturally in northwest Mexico and California. You can find it in different mountain ranges like the California Coast Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Transverse Ranges. It also grows in the Sierra Nevada mountains and along the coast of Southern California. You might even spot it on the Channel Islands. It likes to grow on rocky slopes that are protected from strong winds. It can be found in areas with chaparral (a type of shrubland), conifer forests, and other natural places.
What It Looks Like
Acmispon argophyllus is a plant that lives for many years. It can grow flat along the ground or stand upright. The bottom part of its stem is woody and strong. The upper parts of the plant are covered in soft, silvery hairs, which is why it's called "silver" lotus.
Its leaves are made up of pairs of small, oval-shaped leaflets. These leaflets are also hairy and are about one centimeter long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of this plant grow in a cluster. They are yellow and shaped like tubes, each about one centimeter long. The base of the flowers is covered by soft, hairy sepals.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a legume pod. This pod usually holds just one seed inside.
Different Types of Silver Lotus
Just like there are different types of apples, there are different types, or "varieties," of Acmispon argophyllus. These varieties might look a little different or grow in specific places.
Here are some of the known varieties:
- A. a. var. adsurgens: This type is called the San Clemente Island bird's-foot trefoil. It only grows on San Clemente Island, which is one of the Channel Islands of California. It is quite rare.
- A. a. var. argenteus: This variety is known as the Channel Islands silver lotus. It grows on several of the Channel Islands.
- A. a. var. argophyllus: This is a more common type called Fremont's silver lotus. You can find it on the mainland of California.
- A. a. var. fremontii: This variety is only found in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- A. a. var. niveus: This type is called the Santa Cruz Island bird's-foot trefoil. It only grows on Santa Cruz Island, another one of the Channel Islands, and it is also rare.
