Cooper's wild cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooper's wild cabbage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caulanthus
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| Species: |
cooperi
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| Synonyms | |
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Thelypodium cooperi S.Watson |
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Caulanthus cooperi, also known as Cooper's wild cabbage, is a fascinating flowering plant. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which is also known as the mustard family. This family includes many plants you might know, like broccoli and cabbage!
This plant grows naturally in the southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico. You can often find it in open, sandy areas. It's an annual herb, which means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year.
What Does Cooper's Wild Cabbage Look Like?
Cooper's wild cabbage has a thin stem that can look a bit twisted. Its leaves are shaped like wide spearheads or oblongs. They wrap around the stem, making the plant look quite unique.
The Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of this plant are quite special. They have a rounded or urn-shaped outer layer made of sepals. Sepals are like small, leaf-like structures that protect the flower bud. These sepals can be pinkish or a pale greenish color. Inside, you'll find light yellow or pale purple petals.
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit called a silique. A silique is a long, narrow pod that holds the seeds. These pods can be straight or slightly curved and are several centimeters long.
Where Does It Grow?
Cooper's wild cabbage is quite common in its native regions. It thrives in sunny, sandy places. You can find it across different desert areas, including parts of:
It's an important part of the natural plant life in places like the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Deserts.
