Dwarf owl's-clover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf owl's-clover |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Triphysaria
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| Species: |
pusilla
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Triphysaria pusilla is a small flowering plant. It belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. People often call it the dwarf owl's-clover.
This plant grows naturally along the west coast of North America. You can find it from British Columbia down to central California. It lives in places like the California Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. It likes wet, open areas, such as spring-fed grasslands.
Contents
What Does Dwarf Owl's-Clover Look Like?
Triphysaria pusilla is an annual herb. This means it grows, flowers, and dies within one year. Its stem can be hairy and brownish or purple. It grows up to about 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) tall. The stem has many branches.
How It Gets Food
Like many plants in its family, Triphysaria pusilla is a hemiparasite. This means it can make some of its own food. But it also gets extra nutrients and water from other plants. It does this by attaching to their roots. It uses special root parts called haustoria to connect.
Leaves and Colors
The leaves of this plant can be green, red, or purple. They get these colors from special pigments called anthocyanins. The leaves are up to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Each leaf is divided into a few narrow, pointed parts.
Flowers and Their Shape
The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. They are tiny and shaped like tubes. Each flower has two main parts. The top part is like a beak and can be yellow or purple. The bottom part is wider. It has three small pouches that are also yellow or purple.
To help with cross pollination, only a few flowers open at a time. On each plant, only three flowers will be fully grown. Two of these flowers will have their anthers ready first. Anthers are the parts that make pollen. The third flower will have its stigma ready. The stigma is the part that receives pollen. This helps the plant share pollen with other plants.
How Dwarf Owl's-Clover is Pollinated
Scientists believe that ants are the main helpers for pollination. Ants might carry pollen from one flower to another. This helps the plant make seeds.
