One-awn spineflower facts for kids

The Chorizanthe uniaristata is a type of flowering plant. It is often called the one-awn spineflower. This plant belongs to the buckwheat family. It is a special plant because it grows only in central California. This means it is endemic to that area. You can find it in several mountain ranges and along the Central Coast of California.

What is the One-Awn Spineflower?

The one-awn spineflower is a small plant. It grows stems that can stand up straight or lie down. These stems can be up to about 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long. The plant often looks hairy. Its color can be gray, green, or reddish.

Where Does it Grow?

This plant likes to grow in certain types of soil. You can find it in sandy, gravelly, and rocky places. It often lives in areas called chaparral and woodlands. Chaparral is a type of shrubland common in California.

What Does it Look Like?

The flowers of the one-awn spineflower grow in a group. This group is called an inflorescence. Each tiny flower is surrounded by six hairy leaf-like parts. These parts are called bracts.

One of these bracts is very special. It is much longer than the others. It also has a long, straight point, like a tiny needle. This point is called an awn. The other bracts have awns too, but theirs are usually hooked. The actual flower is very small, only about 2 or 3 millimeters long. It is usually white.