Cleveland's bush monkeyflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cleveland's bush monkeyflower |
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Diplacus
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| Species: |
clevelandii
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The Cleveland's bush monkeyflower (scientific name: Diplacus clevelandii) is a special type of monkeyflower. It used to be called Mimulus clevelandii. This plant is quite rare and beautiful!
Its scientific name, clevelandii, was chosen to honor Daniel Cleveland. He was a plant collector and lawyer from San Diego in the 1800s who loved studying plants.
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Where it Grows
This unique monkeyflower is found only in a specific area. It is endemic (meaning it grows naturally nowhere else) to the Peninsular Ranges. These are mountain ranges found in southern California and northern Baja California (a part of Mexico).
You can find it growing in special natural areas like chaparral and oak woodlands. Chaparral is a type of shrubland with tough, woody plants, while oak woodlands have many oak trees. Sometimes, it even pops up in areas that have been disturbed, like after a fire or construction.
Because it's not very common, the Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is listed as a vulnerable species by the California Native Plant Society. This means it's a plant that needs protection to make sure it doesn't disappear.
What it Looks Like
The Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is a strong plant that comes back year after year (it's a perennial herb). It grows a hairy, straight stem that can reach up to 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) tall. This stem grows from a woody base called a caudex, which helps the plant store energy.
Leaves
Its leaves are also hairy and can be up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. They are shaped like a spearhead (lance-shaped) or are more oval (oblong). The leaves grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the stem. You might often see smaller leaves growing right where the main leaves meet the stem.
Flowers
The flowers of the Cleveland's bush monkeyflower are very pretty! Each flower has a tube-like base that is covered by a hairy cup called a calyx. This calyx is made of leaf-like parts called sepals, which are over 2 centimeters long and have pointy tips.
The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is a bright yellow color. It can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long and opens up into a wide mouth with five lobes, or sections. You can usually see these lovely yellow flowers blooming from April to June.
