Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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Loteae
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| Genus: |
Acmispon
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| Species: |
A. heermannii
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| Binomial name | |
| Acmispon heermannii (Durand & Hilg.) Brouillet
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| Synonyms | |
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Lotus heermannii (Durand & Hilg) Greene |
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Acmispon heermannii is a special kind of plant often called Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil or Heermann's lotus. It's a type of legume, which means it belongs to the pea family. This plant is native to the sunny coastal areas, deep canyons, and tall mountains of California and Baja California.
You can find Heermann's lotus growing in many different places. It likes both areas near the ocean and habitats further inland.
Contents
What Does Heermann's Lotus Look Like?
Heermann's lotus is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows in a mat-like shape, with its stems spreading out along the ground.
Leaves and Flowers
- Its stems are covered with leaves.
- Each leaf is made up of several small, oval-shaped leaflets.
- These leaflets often have tiny hairs on them.
- The plant produces clusters of 3 to 8 flowers.
- Each flower is about one centimeter long.
- The petals are usually bright yellow.
- Sometimes, the yellow petals have darker tips or lobes.
Fruits and Seeds
- After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit.
- This fruit is a curved pod, much like a pea pod.
- It has a distinctive beak-like shape at the end.
- Inside these pods are the plant's seeds.
Where Does Heermann's Lotus Grow?
This plant is a true native of the West Coast. It thrives in specific regions of North America.
Natural Habitat
- You can find Acmispon heermannii in California.
- It also grows in Baja California, which is in Mexico.
- It prefers coastal plains, which are flat lands near the sea.
- It also grows in canyons and mountainous regions.
- This plant is well-adapted to different types of environments, both near the ocean and further inland.
What is a Legume?
Heermann's lotus is part of the Fabaceae family, also known as the legume family. This is a very large group of plants.
Legume Family Features
- Legumes are known for their special fruit, which is called a pod.
- Peas, beans, and peanuts are all examples of legumes.
- Many legumes have a unique ability to help the soil.
- They can take nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil.
- This makes the soil richer and helps other plants grow.
