Chiricahua Mountain stinkweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chiricahua Mountain stinkweed |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cleomella
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| Species: |
longipes
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The Chiricahua Mountain stinkweed (Cleomella longipes) is a unique plant found in parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States. It gets its common name "stinkweed" because some plants in the Cleomella family have a strong smell. This plant grows in places like Chihuahua and San Luis Potosí in Mexico. In the U.S., you can find it in trans-Pecos Texas, New Mexico (specifically Grant and Hidalgo Counties), and Arizona (Cochise County).
This plant likes to grow in special types of soil. It prefers "saline" or "alkaline" flats. Saline soil means it has a lot of salt, like near a dry lakebed. Alkaline soil means it has a high pH, which is the opposite of acidic soil. You can find the Chiricahua Mountain stinkweed growing at elevations between 500 and 1000 meters (about 1,600 to 3,300 feet) above sea level.
About the Chiricahua Mountain Stinkweed
The Chiricahua Mountain stinkweed is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle, from seed to flower to seed, within one year. It doesn't live for many years like a tree. This plant can grow up to 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) tall. That's almost as tall as a typical 10-year-old! It has a few branches, but not too many.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are long and narrow, shaped a bit like an oval. They can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. That's roughly the length of your thumb.
The flowers of the Chiricahua Mountain stinkweed grow in clusters called racemes. These are like spikes of flowers that appear at the very top of the plant and at the ends of its branches. Each flower has green sepals, which are like small leaf-like parts that protect the bud before it opens. The petals are bright yellow. They can be up to 9 millimeters (about 0.35 inches) long and 4 millimeters (about 0.15 inches) wide.
