Long Valley milkvetch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Valley milkvetch |
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The Astragalus johannis-howellii is a special kind of plant known as a milkvetch. Its common name is the Long Valley milkvetch. This small plant grows naturally in eastern California, especially in a place called Long Valley in Mono County. You can also find it across the border in Nevada. It loves to grow in the dry, open areas of the Great Basin, which are often called "scrub habitats."
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Meet the Long Valley Milkvetch!
The Long Valley milkvetch is a type of plant that lives for many years. It's called a "perennial herb." This plant forms loose groups of very thin stems. These stems can grow up to about 20 centimeters long, which is like the length of a regular pencil.
What is a Milkvetch?
Milkvetch plants belong to the pea family. This means they are related to peas, beans, and clover! Many milkvetch plants are important for the environment. They help improve the soil where they grow.
Where Does it Grow?
This milkvetch is native to a specific part of the United States. It grows naturally in the eastern parts of California and extends into Nevada.
Its Home: The Great Basin
The Long Valley milkvetch lives in a place called the Great Basin. This is a large, dry area in the western United States. It's known for its "scrub habitat," which means it has lots of shrubs and small plants that can handle dry weather.
What Does it Look Like?
This plant might be small, but it has some interesting features! Its leaves are only a few centimeters long. Each leaf is made up of many tiny, folded, oval-shaped pieces called "leaflets."
Flowers and Fruit
When it blooms, the Long Valley milkvetch produces small clusters of flowers. Each cluster, called an inflorescence, usually has 6 to 12 flowers. These flowers are off-white with pale stripes and are only a few millimeters long. After the flowers, the plant grows a fruit. This fruit is a hanging pod, like a small pea pod. It's called a legume pod and can be up to a centimeter long. The pod is thin, a bit hairy, and feels like paper.
Who Named This Plant?
The Long Valley milkvetch was named after a famous botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. This plant was named to honor John Thomas Howell, who was a well-known plant expert.
