Ammannia coccinea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ammannia coccinea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ammannia
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| Species: |
coccinea
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| Synonyms | |
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Ammannia teres |
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Ammannia coccinea is a type of flowering plant. It is often called valley redstem, scarlet toothcup, or purple ammannia. This plant belongs to the loosestrife family, which includes many beautiful flowering plants.
Contents
About Ammannia Coccinea
This plant is an annual herb, meaning it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It can grow straight up to almost one meter (about 3 feet) tall. Sometimes, it might also grow along the ground.
Where Does It Grow?
Ammannia coccinea is native to most of the United States. You can find it in nearly all states, except for the Pacific Northwest (like Washington and Oregon) and New England (like Maine and Massachusetts).
This plant loves wet places. It usually grows in moist areas, such as along riverbanks or at the edges of ponds. In some places, it can grow very easily and might even be considered a common "weedy" plant.
What Does It Look Like?
Ammannia coccinea has several interesting features.
Stems and Leaves
The leaves of this plant are long and narrow, like a line. They can grow up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Their color can range from green to deep shades of red, which makes the plant quite noticeable.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Ammannia coccinea grow in small groups. These clusters usually have 3 to 5 flowers. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, especially on the upper parts of the plant. Each flower is rounded and has small petals that are rose to lavender in color. These petals are only a few millimeters long. You might also notice the stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, sticking out with their yellow tips.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small, rounded fruit. This fruit is a capsule, which is like a small container. It can be up to half a centimeter (about 0.2 inches) wide. Inside this capsule, there are many tiny seeds, ready to grow into new plants next year.
See also
In Spanish: Ammannia coccinea para niños
