Claspingleaf wild cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Claspingleaf wild cabbage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caulanthus
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| Species: |
amplexicaulis
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Have you ever heard of a plant called the claspingleaf wild cabbage? Its scientific name is Caulanthus amplexicaulis. This interesting flowering plant belongs to the Brassicaceae family. This family also includes common vegetables like cabbage and broccoli! You can only find this special plant growing in California, USA. It loves to grow on sunny hillsides in mountain ranges. These include the Transverse Ranges and the Outer South California Coast Ranges.
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What Does It Look Like?
The claspingleaf wild cabbage is an annual plant. This means it lives for only one growing season. It's a herb, so it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. It grows a tall, thin stem. Its flat, oval leaves wrap around the bottom part of the stem. This is why it's called 'claspingleaf'!
Its flowers are quite unique. They are purple and shaped like a round pouch. The pouch opens at the top. The tips of the petals bend backward. The outside of the petals are a deep purple. But the inside petals are much lighter, almost white. After the flower blooms, it forms a long fruit. This fruit is called a silique. It can grow to be more than 10 centimeters long!
Different Types of This Plant
There are two main types, or varieties, of the claspingleaf wild cabbage. They look a little different and grow in different places.
Santa Barbara Jewelflower
One variety is called Caulanthus amplexicaulis var. barbarae. It is also known as the Santa Barbara jewelflower. This type is special because it only grows in a specific kind of soil. This soil is called serpentine soil. You can find it in the San Rafael Mountains. These mountains are in central Santa Barbara County. The sepals of its flowers are white or cream. Sepals are the leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. This is different from the bright purple sepals of the more common variety.
Transverse Ranges Variety
The other variety is Caulanthus amplexicaulis var. amplexicaulis. This type is found only in the Transverse Ranges. These are a group of mountain ranges in Southern California.
