Douglas' fiddleneck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Douglas' fiddleneck |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amsinckia
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| Species: |
douglasiana
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Amsinckia douglasiana, also known as Douglas' fiddleneck, is a special type of plant. It's quite rare and grows naturally only in a few places in southern California. You can find it in the coastal Santa Monica Mountains and Santa Ynez Mountains.
Contents
What Does Douglas' Fiddleneck Look Like?
This plant is an annual herb, which means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a bristly feel.
Its Unique Flowers
Like other "fiddleneck" plants, Amsinckia douglasiana produces flowers that grow in a coiled shape, much like the top of a fiddle or violin. These flowers are a pretty yellow-orange color. Each flower is usually over a centimeter wide. They often have fewer than five petals or "lobes."
Special Flower Types
This plant is also known for being heterostylous. This is a fancy word meaning that some of its flowers have long pistils (the female part) and short stamens (the male part), while other flowers on different plants have short pistils and long stamens. This helps the plant with pollination.
Where Else Can It Be Found?
While it's native to California, Douglas' fiddleneck has sometimes been found growing in new places, like on the East Coast of the U.S. This happens when seeds are accidentally carried there, making it an introduced species in those areas.
Images for kids
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A close-up view of the Douglas' fiddleneck flowers.
