Island wallflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Island wallflower |
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|---|---|
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| subsp. suffrutescens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erysimum
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| Species: |
insulare
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The Erysimum insulare, also known as the island wallflower, is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the Erysimum group. This plant is found only in one place: along the coast of southern California. You can also find it on the Channel Islands. The island wallflower likes to grow on coastal cliffs and sandy dunes.
What it Looks Like
The island wallflower is a plant that lives for many years. It can be a small plant (a perennial herb) or a slightly woody, small bush (a subshrub). Its stem grows straight up, usually between 5 and 60 centimeters tall. Many hairy leaves grow along the stem. These leaves can be long and thin, or wider and shaped like a spear. The longest leaves are near the bottom of the stem and can be up to 15 centimeters long.
At the top of the stem, you'll see many bright yellow or yellow-orange flowers. They grow in a cluster called a raceme inflorescence. After the flowers bloom, they turn into a long, thin fruit. This fruit is called a silique and can be up to 10 centimeters long.
Two Kinds of Island Wallflower
There are two main types, or subspecies, of this plant:
- Erysimum insulare subsp. suffrutescens: Most island wallflower plants you see belong to this type.
- Erysimum insulare subsp. insulare: This type is quite rare. You can only find it on three of the northern Channel Islands. These islands are part of Channel Islands National Park.
