Barometer bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barometer bush |
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| Leucophyllum frutescens 'Green Cloud' | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Tribe: | Leucophylleae |
| Genus: | Leucophyllum Humb. & Bonpl. |
| Species | |
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About 15 species, see text |
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| Synonyms | |
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Terania Berland. |
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Leucophyllum (say "loo-koh-FIL-um"), also known as the barometer bush, is a group of evergreen shrubs. Evergreen means they keep their leaves all year round. These plants belong to the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). You can find them growing naturally in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
People sometimes call these plants "sages" because of their look. However, they are not related to the true sage plant, Salvia.
The flowers of Leucophyllum plants are bell-shaped or funnel-shaped. They have five petals and come in many colors, like white, magenta, and purple. The name Leucophyllum comes from two Greek words: leukos, meaning "white," and phyllon, meaning "leaf." This name refers to their leaves, which are often covered in tiny white hairs.
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Where Leucophyllum Plants Grow
These shrubs usually grow in sandy soils. They can also handle a lot of salt in the soil, which is helpful in some dry areas. Because they don't need much water, they have become very popular for planting in warm places and in xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is a way of gardening that uses plants needing very little water.
Leucophyllum plants are easy to shape into hedges. They also bloom with many flowers all over their surface. Many different types, called cultivars, have been created from species like L. frutescens and L. candidum.
The Barometer Bush: A Weather Forecaster?
Leucophyllum shrubs are famous for their amazing ability to "forecast" rain. They usually start blooming a few days before a rainstorm. Scientists believe they do this in response to changes in humidity in the air. This is why they are sometimes called the "barometer bush."
This special ability is thought to be a way for the plants to survive in their dry, desert-like homes. By blooming before rain, they can make the most of the moisture when it arrives.
Different Types of Leucophyllum
There are about 15 different species of Leucophyllum. Here are some of them:
- Leucophyllum candidum – Brewster County barometer bush
- Leucophyllum frutescens – Texas sage, Texas ranger, silverleaf
- Leucophyllum laevigatum – Chihuahuan sage
- Leucophyllum langmaniae – Langman's sage, Rio Bravo sage
- Leucophyllum minus – Big Bend barometer bush
Hybrids
Sometimes, different types of Leucophyllum are crossed to create new plants called hybrids.
- Leucophyllum × 'Heavenly Cloud' (a mix of L. frutescens 'Green Cloud' and L. laevigatum)
- Leucophyllum × 'Rain Cloud' (a mix of L. frutescens and L. minus)
See also
In Spanish: Leucophyllum para niños
