Toothed calicoflower facts for kids
Downingia cuspidata is a beautiful wild plant often called the toothed calicoflower. It belongs to the bellflower family. This plant is special because it grows naturally in California. You can find it in wet places like ponds, meadows, and unique areas called vernal pools. It might even grow a little bit into Mexico.
Quick facts for kids Toothed calicoflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Downingia
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| Species: |
cuspidata
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About the Toothed Calicoflower
The toothed calicoflower is an annual plant. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, makes new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a stem that stands up straight and branches out. Along the stem, you will see small leaves.
What the Flowers Look Like
At the end of each stem branch, you will find one or more flowers. Each flower is about one centimeter wide. The flower has a tube shape. It has two long, narrow parts at the top. These top parts can be blue, purple, or even almost white.
The bottom part of the flower is different. It is joined together into one flat surface with three rounded sections. This lower part can be blue, purple, or white. In the middle, it has a big yellow spot, or sometimes two smaller yellow spots. These yellow spots are outlined in white. Each of the rounded sections on the lower part might have a small point, like a tiny tooth. This is why it's called the "toothed calicoflower"!
Where it Lives
This showy wildflower loves wet places. It grows in California in areas like ponds and meadows. It is also found in special places called vernal pools. Vernal pools are shallow areas that fill with water during the rainy season. Then, they dry up later in the year. Many unique plants, like the toothed calicoflower, grow only in these special pools.
