Crisped thelypody facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crisped thelypody |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelypodium
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| Species: |
crispum
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Thelypodium crispum is a type of flowering plant in the mustard family. It's often called crisped thelypody because of its crinkly petals.
Contents
Discovering Crisped Thelypody
Where Does It Grow?
This plant grows naturally in the mountains and high lands of Nevada and eastern California. You can often find it in places where the soil has lots of minerals. It also likes "alkaline" soils, which means the soil is not acidic. You might even see it growing near hot springs.
What Does Crisped Thelypody Look Like?
Crisped thelypody can be an annual plant, which means it lives for just one year. Sometimes it's a biennial, living for two years. It can also be a short-lived perennial, living for a few years.
This plant grows a straight, branching stem. It can be as short as 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) or as tall as 1.2 meters (about 4 feet).
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are thick and waxy. They are usually divided into several parts. Leaves higher up on the stem are simpler and wrap around the stem at their base.
The plant's flowers grow in a dense, spiky cluster called a raceme. These flowers can be white, greenish, or even a light purple color. Their petals are very crinkly, which is how the plant gets its common name, "crisped thelypody."
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a cylindrical pod called a silique. It is about 1 to 2.5 centimeters long (less than an inch). Inside each silique, you will find several seeds.
