San Diego goldenstar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Diego goldenstar |
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Muilla clevelandii (S.Watson) Hoover |
The Bloomeria clevelandii, also known as the San Diego goldenstar, is a special and rare flowering plant. It grows naturally in a narrow strip of coastal scrub and grasslands. You can find it in San Diego County, California, and nearby Baja California in Mexico.
For many years, this plant was called Muilla clevelandii. But recently, scientists used genetic analysis (looking at its DNA) to learn more about it. They found that it's not very closely related to other plants in the Muilla group. Because of this, its scientific name was changed back to Bloomeria clevelandii. The plant's specific name, clevelandii, honors Daniel Cleveland. He was a lawyer and plant collector from San Diego in the 1800s.
What Does the San Diego Goldenstar Look Like?
The San Diego goldenstar is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that comes back year after year, and it doesn't have a woody stem like a tree. It grows from a corm, which is like a small, underground bulb.
- It usually has 2 to 8 narrow leaves. These leaves can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long.
- A tall flower stalk, called an inflorescence, grows straight up from the ground. This stalk can reach up to 70 centimeters (about 27 inches) tall.
- The flowers are arranged in a shape called an umbel. This looks like an umbrella, with many flower stems coming from one point.
- There can be up to 30 flowers on each stalk. Each flower sits on a small stem called a pedicel, which is about 2 or 3 centimeters long.
- Each flower has six yellow tepals. Tepals are like petals, but they also have green veins running through them. Each tepal can be up to a centimeter long.
Why Is the San Diego Goldenstar Rare?
The San Diego goldenstar is a threatened species. This means its numbers are going down, and it needs protection. Its main problem is the loss of its coastal habitat.
- Urban development: New buildings and cities are being built where the plant naturally grows. This destroys its home.
- Vehicle impacts: Cars and other vehicles driving off-road can damage the plants and their habitat.
- Trash dumping: People dumping trash in these areas also harms the environment where the goldenstar lives.
Protecting these areas is important to help the San Diego goldenstar survive for future generations.
