Coulter's wild cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coulter's wild cabbage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caulanthus
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| Species: |
coulteri
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Caulanthus coulteri is a type of flowering plant often called Coulter's wild cabbage. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which also includes plants like broccoli and mustard.
This plant is special because it is only found in California. You can see it growing in many dry, open areas there. It thrives in places like chaparral (a type of shrubland) and the Mojave Desert.
What Does Coulter's Wild Cabbage Look Like?
Coulter's wild cabbage is an annual plant, meaning it lives for only one year. It grows a tall, thin stem that can reach from about 4 inches (10 cm) to over 5 feet (1.6 meters) high! The stem often has many branches.
Its leaves are usually shaped like a spearhead. They can be smooth or have sharp, saw-like edges. These leaves grow along the stem.
The flowers are spaced out along the stem. They look a bit like bullets when they are new. Each flower has special outer leaves called sepals. These sepals start out bright or deep purple. As they get older, they change color to yellow-green.
When the sepals open, you can see the tips of the petals inside. These petals often have dark veins and wavy edges. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces long, thin fruits called siliques. These fruits can grow up to 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) long.
