California centaury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California centaury |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zeltnera
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| Species: |
venusta
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Zeltnera venusta is a pretty flowering plant often called the California centaury. It's part of the gentian family, which includes many beautiful flowers. You can find this plant growing in California, southern Oregon, and parts of Baja California. It's known for its bright, star-shaped flowers!
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Discover the California Centaury!
What is the California Centaury?
The California centaury, or Zeltnera venusta, is a type of wildflower. It's also known as the charming centaury or canchalagua. This plant is an annual, meaning it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It's a member of the gentian family, which is famous for its colorful flowers.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
This lovely centaury is native to a large area. You can find it across much of California, in southern Oregon, and in the northwestern part of Baja California in Mexico. It's quite adaptable! It grows in many different natural places, called habitats. You can spot it at elevations up to about 1300 meters (which is around 4,265 feet) above sea level.
What Does the California Centaury Look Like?
The California centaury is a small plant. It rarely grows taller than half a meter (about 1.5 feet). Its stems are thin and delicate. The leaves are shaped like pointed ovals. They grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the stem.
The Beautiful Flowers
The top of the plant has one or more showy, star-shaped flowers. These flowers are truly eye-catching! Each flower has a bright magenta (purplish-pink) color. In the very center of the flower, there's a white spot. The flowers are about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) wide.
A Name Change for This Plant!
For many years, this plant was known by a different scientific name. Until 2004, scientists placed it in a genus called Centaurium. So, its full name was Centaurium venustum. However, after more research, scientists decided it was different enough to be moved to its own genus, Zeltnera. That's why its current scientific name is Zeltnera venusta.
