Inyo County star-tulip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inyo County star-tulip |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochortus
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| Species: |
excavatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Calochortus campestris Davidson |
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Calochortus excavatus is a beautiful flowering plant from the lily family. It's often called the Inyo County star-tulip because its flowers look a bit like stars, and it grows in Inyo County, California.
Where Does It Grow?
The Inyo County star-tulip is a special plant that grows only in eastern California. You can find it in Mono and Inyo Counties. It likes to live in grassy areas. These areas are often part of what's called a shadscale scrub plant community.
This plant grows alongside other plants that like salty soil. These plants are often found near dry lake beds, also known as playas. Most of these star-tulips live in the Owens Valley.
Sadly, this plant is considered endangered. This means there are not many left. One big reason it's in danger is because the local groundwater is being used up. Groundwater is the water found underground.
What Does It Look Like?
The Inyo County star-tulip grows from a bulb. A bulb is like a small onion that stores food for the plant. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years.
It grows a thin stem that usually doesn't have branches. This stem can reach about 30 cm (12 in) tall.
The plant has 1 to 6 bell-shaped flowers. These flowers stand upright in a small group. Each flower has three sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals do not have spots.
The flowers also have three white petals. Sometimes, the petals have green stripes on the outside. They usually have a reddish-purple spot at their base. The parts of the flower that hold pollen, called anthers, are reddish to purple.
