Priest Valley spineflower facts for kids

The Priest Valley spineflower (scientific name: Chorizanthe ventricosa) is a unique plant. It is found only in a small area of the Coastal Ranges in west-central California. This means it is endemic to that region, growing naturally nowhere else in the world.

You can find this special plant growing on a type of soil called serpentine. This soil is unusual and only certain plants can grow well in it. The Priest Valley spineflower lives in grasslands and pine-oak woodlands. It grows at elevations between 500 and 1000 meters (about 1,640 to 3,280 feet) above sea level. This flower has been seen in four California counties: Monterey, San Benito, Fresno, and San Luis Obispo.

What Does It Look Like?

The Priest Valley spineflower is an herb, which means it's a plant without a woody stem, like many garden flowers. It can grow up to 70 centimeters (about 27 inches) tall. These plants often spread out, forming large groups or colonies.

Its leaves can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. The flowers grow in clusters that can be up to 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) across. These clusters have green parts called bracts. Bracts are like small leaves that grow near the flowers. The bracts of the Priest Valley spineflower have pointed tips, which make them look a bit like tiny spines.

The flowers themselves are quite colorful. Each flower has two colors. They can be white or yellow, combined with red or a dark reddish-brown color called maroon.