California milkwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California milkwort |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Polygalaceae |
| Genus: | Rhinotropis |
| Species: |
R. californica
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhinotropis californica (Nutt.) J.R.Abbott
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The California milkwort is a beautiful flowering plant. Its scientific name is Rhinotropis californica. It is also known by another scientific name, Polygala californica. This plant belongs to the milkwort family.
Contents
What is the California Milkwort?
The California milkwort is a type of perennial herb. This means it is a plant that lives for many years. It grows stems that spread out along the ground. These stems can reach up to about 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. Its leaves are narrow and oval-shaped, each a few centimeters long.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant is native to parts of North America. You can find it in southwestern Oregon and northern and central California. It likes to grow in coastal mountain ranges. Its favorite places include chaparral areas and forests.
What Does Its Flowers Look Like?
The California milkwort produces several open flowers. These flowers grow in clusters at the top of the plant. Some flowers might stay closed lower on the plant. These closed flowers are called cleistogamous flowers. They can pollinate themselves without opening.
The open flowers have pink or white parts that look like wings. These are called sepals. They have hairy edges. The petals are similar in color to the sepals. The central petal has a white or yellow tip, which looks like a small beak.
What About Its Fruit and Seeds?
After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a flattened green capsule. It can be up to a centimeter (about half an inch) long. Inside the capsule, you will find hairy seeds.
See also
In Spanish: Polygala californica para niños
 | Stephanie Wilson |
 | Charles Bolden |
 | Ronald McNair |
 | Frederick D. Gregory |
