Speckled fairyfan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Speckled fairyfan |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Clarkia
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| Species: |
cylindrica
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The Clarkia cylindrica is a pretty flowering plant. People often call it the speckled fairyfan or speckled clarkia. It belongs to the evening primrose family.
This plant is special because it is endemic to California. This means it only grows naturally in California and nowhere else in the world! You can find it in places like the chaparral, oak woodlands, and open grasslands. It grows in the southern California Coast Ranges, the western Transverse Ranges, and the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada.
What Does the Speckled Fairyfan Look Like?
The speckled fairyfan is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a straight stem that can grow up to about 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) tall. Its leaves are mostly long and thin, reaching up to six centimeters in length.
The Flowers of the Speckled Fairyfan
The plant produces several flowers together in a cluster called an inflorescence. When the flowers are still buds, they hang downwards. But as they get ready to open, they stand up straight.
Each open flower looks like a bowl. It has four petals that are shaped like a fan. These petals can be up to 3.5 centimeters long. Their colors blend together, showing shades of lavender, white, and magenta. Often, you can see small purple or pink speckles on them, which is how it got its "speckled" name!
Below the colorful petals, there are bright pink parts called sepals. These sepals are joined together. Inside the flower, there are eight stamens. Stamens are the parts that hold pollen. The stamens of the speckled fairyfan have lavender-colored tips called anthers.
The Fruit of the Speckled Fairyfan
After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a long, tube-shaped pod, like a small cylinder. It can grow up to 5 centimeters long and holds the plant's seeds.
