Boyden Cave gilia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boyden Cave gilia |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gilia
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| Species: |
yorkii
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The Gilia yorkii is a very special and rare flowering plant. It's also known as the Boyden Cave gilia or monarch gilia. This plant belongs to the phlox family, which includes many beautiful flowers.
What makes Gilia yorkii so unique is that it's endemic to just one small area. This means it only grows naturally in Fresno County, California, in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. You can find this plant tucked away in cracks of limestone cliffs and rocky areas. It likes to grow in the chaparral and woodlands of the canyons there.
Where Does This Rare Plant Live?
This amazing plant was first found on July 31, 1995. It was discovered near Boyden Cave in the Kings River Canyon. Scientists officially named it a new species in 1998.
Today, this is still the only place where Gilia yorkii is known to grow. This makes it one of the rarest plants in California!
What Does It Look Like?
The Gilia yorkii is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. Its stem can grow up to about 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall. The stem is often covered in tiny hairs and glands, which are small bumps that can produce sticky substances.
The leaves of the plant are interesting. They are divided into smaller parts, like tiny fingers. The biggest leaves are found near the bottom of the plant and can be up to 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. The leaves higher up on the stem are much smaller.
The Flowers
The plant produces several flowers on thin, thread-like stalks. These stalks also have tiny glands on them. Each flower has a green outer layer called a calyx, which protects the petals.
The petals form a tube-shaped flower that is just under a centimeter long. The flowers can be white, light blue, or a soft lavender color. Their pale color helps the plant blend in with the rocky cliffs where it lives. This makes it quite tricky to spot!
