San Diego wild cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Diego wild cabbage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caulanthus
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| Species: |
heterophyllus
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| Synonyms | |
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Streptanthus heterophyllus |
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The Caulanthus heterophyllus is a type of flowering plant often called the San Diego wild cabbage or San Diego jewelflower. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which also includes plants like broccoli and mustard.
This plant is an annual, meaning it completes its whole life cycle in one year. It grows naturally in the coastal areas of southern California and Baja California. You can often find it in a plant community called chaparral, especially in places that are recovering after a wildfire.
Contents
What is San Diego Wild Cabbage?
The San Diego wild cabbage is a unique wildflower. It's known for its interesting flowers and how it grows in dry, sunny places. It's an important part of the local ecosystem.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant loves the sunny, dry climate of California and Baja California. It's found in the coast ranges and mountain ranges there. It's very good at growing in areas that have recently had a wildfire, helping the land recover.
How to Identify This Plant
This plant has a straight stem that can be thin or quite thick. It grows long, pointed leaves along its stem. As you look higher up the stem, you'll see flowers appearing at regular spots. At the very top of the stem, there's usually a cluster of one or more flowers.
The Flowers
Each flower is very colorful and stands out. It often has a magenta or purple body that looks like a hollow, urn-shaped cup. Around the opening of this cup, there are white petals that curl outwards. This creates a beautiful contrast of colors.
The Fruit and Seeds
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit called a silique. This is a long, thin pod, usually several centimeters long. Inside the silique, you'll find seeds that have tiny wings. These wings help the seeds fly away in the wind, spreading the plant to new places.
