Mosquin's clarkia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mosquin's clarkia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Clarkia
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| Species: |
mosquinii
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Clarkia mosquinii is a special kind of flowering plant. It is part of the evening primrose family. People often call it Mosquin's clarkia. This plant is quite rare.
Mosquin's clarkia grows only in California. You can find it in the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. Specifically, it lives near the border of Butte and Plumas Counties. For a while, people thought this plant had completely disappeared. But then, in 1991, it was found again!
What is Mosquin's Clarkia Like?
Mosquin's clarkia is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all in one year. It can stand quite tall, sometimes more than half a meter high.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are shaped like ovals or spears. They are usually about 2 to 5 centimeters long. The flowers grow in a unique way. You'll see open flowers below groups of closed, hanging flower buds.
When a flower blooms, its sepals (the small leaf-like parts that protect the bud) all separate. The petals are shaped like diamonds. They are usually light to medium purple. Sometimes, they even have reddish-purple speckles. Each petal is about one to two centimeters long.
A Plant's Comeback Story
For many years, scientists believed that Mosquin's clarkia was extinct. This means they thought it had vanished from Earth forever. It was a big surprise when it was rediscovered in 1991. This discovery showed that even rare plants can make a comeback! Finding it again was very exciting for plant lovers and scientists.
