Apacheria chiricahuensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Apacheria chiricahuensis |
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Apacheria
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| Species: |
chiricahuensis
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Apacheria chiricahuensis is a special kind of flowering plant. It's also known by cool names like Chiricahua rock flower, cliff brittlebush, or Apache bush. This plant is the only one in its entire group, which is called Apacheria. It got its name Apacheria to honor the Apache people who live in the area where it grows. The second part of its name, chiricahuensis, comes from the Chiricahua Mountains in Cochise County, Arizona, where you can find it.
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Discovering the Chiricahua Rock Flower
The Apacheria chiricahuensis is a unique plant that belongs to the plant family called Crossosomataceae. It's the only species in its group, which scientists call a "monotypic genus." This means it's the only type of plant in the Apacheria genus.
What the Chiricahua Rock Flower Looks Like
This plant is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It can grow up to about half a meter (about 1.6 feet) tall and spread out to one meter (about 3.3 feet) wide.
- Twigs: Its twigs are hard and can feel a bit like spines.
- Leaves: Small leaves, only a few millimeters long, grow in groups along these twigs. They grow opposite each other.
- Flowers: The plant has single flowers that are usually white or cream-colored. Sometimes, they can even be a light pink! Each flower has four petals, which are about 5 to 6 millimeters long.
- Fruit: After the flower, a fruit called a follicle grows. This fruit holds 1 or 2 brown seeds inside.
How It's Different from Similar Plants
There's another plant group called Crossosoma that looks a bit like Apacheria. However, you can tell them apart by looking closely at their leaves and flowers:
- Apacheria has leaves that grow opposite each other.
- Crossosoma has leaves that grow in an alternating pattern.
- Apacheria flowers have four parts (petals).
- Crossosoma flowers have five parts.
Where the Chiricahua Rock Flower Grows
This special plant likes to grow in many different kinds of rocky desert places. You can find it in areas like:
- Cliffs
- Riparian woodlands (areas along rivers or streams)
- Chaparral (a type of shrubland habitat)
It's well-suited to tough, dry environments.
See also
In Spanish: Apacheria chiricahuensis para niños
