Acmispon junceus facts for kids

Acmispon junceus, also known as rush broom or rush deervetch, is a special type of plant called a legume. Legumes are plants that have pods with seeds inside, like peas or beans. This plant is originally from California.

This plant has other names too, which are called synonyms. Its synonyms include Lotus junceus and Syrmatium junceum.

About Rush Broom

Rush broom is a type of plant that grows low to the ground or spreads out. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and does not have a woody stem like a tree. The plant is a bit hairy.

Its leaves are made up of several small, oval-shaped leaflets. When it blooms, it produces up to eight yellow flowers that look a bit like peas. Each flower is about one centimeter long. After the flowers, the plant grows small, beaked pods. These pods are the fruit of the plant and contain its seeds.

Where Does Rush Broom Grow?

Rush broom is an endemic plant, which means it grows naturally only in one specific place. For rush broom, that place is California. You can find it along the northern and central coasts of California. It also grows in the coastal mountain ranges.

This plant is quite adaptable. It can grow in different environments, from sandy beaches to special rocky areas. It likes serpentine slopes, which are hills with a unique type of soil. It also thrives in chaparral, which is a kind of shrubland common in California.