Dicentra pauciflora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dicentra pauciflora |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dicentra
|
| Species: |
pauciflora
|
Dicentra pauciflora is a unique flowering plant. It's also known by fun names like shorthorn steer's head or few-flowered bleeding-heart. This plant belongs to the Dicentra family, which includes other "bleeding-heart" flowers.
Contents
Discovering the Shorthorn Steer's Head Plant
This plant is a perennial wildflower, meaning it lives for more than two years and blooms each season. It's a special part of the natural world in the U.S. states of Oregon and California.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
The shorthorn steer's head plant loves to live high up in the mountains. You can find it growing in rocky, gravelly soils. These tough conditions are perfect for this small but strong plant.
What Does the Shorthorn Steer's Head Look Like?
This bleeding-heart is quite small. It usually grows to be about 10 centimeters tall, which is roughly the length of a pen.
Under the ground, it has a special root system called a rhizome. This rhizome helps the plant store food and grow new shoots. From this underground part, several upright stems called petioles grow. Each petiole holds a leaf.
The leaves are very interesting! They are divided into smaller parts called leaflets. Each leaflet is then split into smooth, finger-like sections.
The plant also grows a thin main stem. At the top of this stem, you'll find a group of flowers, called an inflorescence. This plant usually has one to three flowers that gently nod downwards.
The Flowers and Fruit
Each flower can be a shade of pink, purple, or even white. They have two outer petals that curve back, and two inner petals that stick straight out. After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a small capsule that is just over a centimeter long.
Why Is It Called Pauciflora?
The second part of the plant's scientific name, pauciflora, comes from Latin. It means 'few-flowered'. This name fits perfectly because the plant usually has only one to three flowers on each stem.
