California ayenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California ayenia |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ayenia
|
| Species: |
compacta
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Ayenia californica |
|
The California ayenia (scientific name: Ayenia compacta) is a cool type of small shrub. It belongs to the mallow family, which also includes plants like cotton and hibiscus!
This plant grows naturally in parts of California, Arizona, and Baja California in Mexico. You can find it in hot, dry places like the Sonoran Desert and its Colorado Desert area. It also grows in special "sky island" areas of the Mojave Desert, which are like cooler, wetter mountains rising out of the desert.
What Does California Ayenia Look Like?
The California ayenia is a small plant, usually growing up to about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. It has many straight, branching stems that grow from a deep taproot. This taproot helps it find water in dry desert soils.
Its leaves are not very many, and they are oval-shaped. The edges of the leaves have dull, small teeth.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the California ayenia grow where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has two main parts. The first layer has sepals that curve upwards. Just above these, there are petals that curve downwards. Each petal has a thin, thread-like part at its base.
After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a round capsule, about half a centimeter wide. It is usually yellow with a hint of purple.
