California dwarf flax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California dwarf flax |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hesperolinon
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| Species: |
californicum
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The California dwarf flax (scientific name: Hesperolinon californicum) is a beautiful flowering plant. It is part of the flax family. This small plant is very special because it grows naturally only in California, USA.
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Meet the California Dwarf Flax
The California dwarf flax is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle in one year. It grows straight up, usually reaching about 10 to 25 centimeters tall. That's roughly the height of a ruler!
Where Does It Live?
This plant is endemic to California. This means it is found nowhere else in the world! It grows in the coastal mountains and hills around the San Francisco Bay Area. You can also find it in some of the lower hills of the Sierra Nevada.
Its Favorite Places
The California dwarf flax likes to live in certain types of natural areas.
- Grasslands: These are open areas mostly covered in grasses.
- Chaparral: This is a type of shrubland with tough, woody plants.
It often grows in special dirt called serpentine soils. These soils are unique because they have a lot of certain minerals.
What Does It Look Like?
The California dwarf flax has thin, narrow leaves. Some leaves are even thread-like! At the base of its leaves, it has tiny glands. These glands can sometimes produce a red, sticky liquid.
Its Flowers
The plant produces several pretty flowers.
- Sepals: These are the small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. The sepals of this plant are glandular, meaning they have tiny glands.
- Petals: Each flower has five petals. They are usually white, but can sometimes have a light pink tint.
- Stamens: These are the parts of the flower that produce pollen. The stamens stick out from the flower.
- Anthers: At the tip of each stamen is a large, pink anther. This is where the pollen is held.
