Ceanothus tomentosus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ceanothus tomentosus |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ceanothus
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| Species: |
tomentosus
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The Ceanothus tomentosus, also known as the woollyleaf ceanothus, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Rhamnaceae family, which includes many different kinds of plants. This special shrub grows naturally in the mountains of California and Baja California.
Where Does it Grow?
The woollyleaf ceanothus loves dry, sunny places. It often grows in a type of habitat called chaparral. Chaparral is a landscape with many shrubs and small trees that are good at living in dry conditions. You can find this plant in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Southern California Peninsular Ranges. These areas have warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
What Does it Look Like?
The Ceanothus tomentosus is an upright shrub that can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching almost three meters (about 10 feet). Its woody branches often have a reddish color, especially when they are new.
Leaves
The leaves of this plant stay green all year round, which means they are evergreen. They are arranged alternately along the stem. Each leaf is oval-shaped and dark green. If you touch the top of a leaf, it feels a bit hairy. The underside of the leaf is even more interesting because it feels soft and "woolly," which is how the plant got its common name, "woollyleaf." The edges of the leaves have tiny teeth that are also a bit sticky.
Flowers and Fruit
When the woollyleaf ceanothus blooms, it produces beautiful clusters of flowers. These flower clusters can be several centimeters long. The flowers themselves can range in color from white to a deep blue. After the flowers fade, they turn into small fruits. These fruits are shaped like a small, round capsule with different sections, or lobes. They are only a few millimeters long and can feel sticky when they are new.
Images for kids
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Note the conspicuous black glands on the teeth of the serrated margins
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The 3-ribbed base of the underside of the leaf
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Note the glandular teeth and the venation
