Arizona popcornflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arizona popcornflower |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Plagiobothrys
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| Species: |
arizonicus
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Plagiobothrys arizonicus is a type of flowering plant. It is also known as the Arizona popcornflower. This plant belongs to the borage family.
Where the Arizona Popcornflower Grows
This plant is native to the southwestern United States. You can also find it in California and Sonora (a state in Mexico). It grows commonly in many places. These include mountains, the Mojave Desert, and the Sonoran Desert. It also likes the California chaparral and woodland areas. These are places with shrubs and small trees.
What the Arizona Popcornflower Looks Like
The Arizona popcornflower is an annual herb. This means it lives for only one growing season. It has a stem that can spread out or stand upright. The stem grows from 10 to 40 centimeters long. Its leaves are mostly found in a circle at the bottom of the stem. This is called a basal rosette. Smaller leaves grow along the stem itself. The whole plant is covered in long, rough, and sharp hairs. If you crush the plant, a purple juice might come out. This juice can stain things.
The Flowers and Seeds
The plant's inflorescence is how its flowers are arranged. It has many small flowers in a row. Each tiny flower has five white petals. These petals form a shape called a corolla. Each corolla is less than 3 millimeters wide. The flowers also have regular bracts. Bracts are like small, leaf-like parts near the flowers. After the flowers, the plant produces seeds. These seeds are inside small, paired structures called nutlets. The nutlets are shaped like an arch and are not prickly.
