Calochortus amoenus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calochortus amoenus |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Calochortus
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amoenus
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The Purple Fairy-lantern (scientific name: Calochortus amoenus) is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family. This plant is also known as the purple fairy-lantern because of its unique flower shape.
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Where the Purple Fairy-lantern Lives
This special plant only grows in one place: California. You can find it in the central Sierra Nevada foothills. It likes to grow on grassy hillsides where there is some shade. You might see it in areas with California oak woodlands or Yellow Pine Forests. These plants grow at elevations between 500 and 1,500 meters (about 1,600 to 4,900 feet) above sea level.
What the Purple Fairy-lantern Looks Like
The Purple Fairy-lantern is a perennial plant, which means it lives for many years. It grows a branching stem that can be 20 to 50 centimeters (about 8 to 20 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The plant has a long, narrow leaf at its base. This leaf can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long. It stays green even when the plant is flowering. There are also two or three smaller leaves along the stem.
The plant produces two or more nodding flowers. Each flower has petals that curve inward, making it look like a small sphere or a closed lantern. The parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are a lovely rose color. The petals have a fringe and are covered with long, pink, whiskery hairs.
Seeds and Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a winged capsule. This is like a seed pod, and it is about 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Inside this capsule, you will find dark brown seeds.
