California seablite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California seablite |
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|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Suaeda
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| Species: |
californica
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| Synonyms | |
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Suaeda americana |
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Suaeda californica, also called California seablite, is a special and rare flowering plant. It belongs to the amaranth family. This plant grows only in San Luis Obispo County, California. You can find it in the marshes near Morro Bay.
Contents
What Does California Seablite Look Like?
Suaeda californica is a small, rounded shrub. It can grow up to 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) tall. Its leaves are green or slightly red and feel fleshy. They are usually smooth, with no hairs.
The plant's woody stems have many branches. These branches are covered with small bumps. These bumps are where old leaves used to be. New leaves grow between these bumps.
The new leaves are shaped like a spear. They can be up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long. Flowers grow all along the stems, between the leaves. Each group has 1 to 5 flowers. A small, leaf-like part called a bract grows with each flower cluster.
The flower's outer part, called the calyx, is cone-shaped. It has fleshy, rounded parts called sepals. This plant does not have petals. The fruit is a small, dry seed called an utricle. It grows inside the calyx.
Where Does California Seablite Live?
This rare plant lives in a specific area. It grows in the intertidal zone of salt marshes. The intertidal zone is the area between high and low tide. Salt marshes are coastal wetlands flooded by ocean water.
The plant needs a special type of soil. This soil must be porous, meaning it has tiny holes. It also needs a lot of nitrogen. Nitrogen can come from decaying plants and bird droppings.
What Threatens California Seablite?
Many things can harm Suaeda californica. Any changes to the water flow in its habitat are a big problem. This includes changes in sediment (like sand or mud). For example, dredging (removing mud from the bottom) can hurt it.
Erosion (when soil washes away) also threatens the plant. Human activities like recreation can disturb its home. Invasive plant species are another major threat. For instance, introduced ice plant can take over its space.
Why Is California Seablite Endangered?
Suaeda californica used to grow around San Francisco Bay. But all those populations are now extirpated. This means they have disappeared from that area. Remains of the plant were found in old adobe bricks. This suggests it once grew along the Petaluma River.
By 1991, scientists believed fewer than 500 plants were left. Because of this, the United States government listed it as an endangered species in 1994. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
To help the plant, some populations have been replanted. These reintroductions are carefully watched. They are growing in new locations around the San Francisco Bay. These efforts aim to bring the California seablite back.
