Flaxleaf monardella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flaxleaf monardella |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Monardella
|
| Species: |
linoides
|
Monardella linoides is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family, just like the mint you might use for chewing gum! People often call it the flaxleaf monardella because its leaves look a bit like flax.
This plant naturally grows in southern California. You can also find it in nearby parts of Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California in Mexico.
It's a tough plant that can live in many different places. You might see it in the hot, dry Mojave Desert. It also grows in chaparral and woodlands, which are areas with shrubs and trees. These areas include the Peninsular Ranges and Transverse Ranges. You can even find it in cooler, higher places like the subalpine forests of the Southern and Eastern Sierra Nevada.
Contents
What Does Flaxleaf Monardella Look Like?
The flaxleaf monardella is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It has slender, upright stems that can grow up to about 50 centimeters tall. That's about the length of a ruler!
Its leaves are long and narrow, or sometimes oval-shaped. They are usually 1 to 4 centimeters long. These leaves have a grayish color and are covered in soft, grayish hairs.
Its Flowers and How They Grow
The plant's flowers grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a head and has several flowers. These flowers bloom inside a cup made of pale, papery leaves called bracts. These bracts can be whitish or have a hint of pink. They are about 2 or 3 centimeters wide.
Each flower is just over a centimeter long. They are usually a pretty light purple color.
Different Kinds of Flaxleaf Monardella
Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are different types of Monardella linoides. These are called subspecies. They are all very similar but have small differences. Here are some of them:
- Monardella linoides ssp. anemonoides: This type is found only in the Southern Sierra Nevada. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it's called endemic.
- Monardella linoides ssp. erecta: This subspecies grows only in the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains.
- Monardella linoides ssp. linoides: This is the main type of the plant.
- Monardella linoides ssp. oblonga: You can find this one only in the San Emigdio Mountains and the Southern Sierra.
- Monardella linoides ssp. sierrae: This is also called the narrow-leaved monardella. It is also endemic to the Sierra Nevada.
- Monardella linoides ssp. stricta: This type is found only in the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains.
One subspecies, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, was once part of this group. However, it has now been reclassified as its own species, Monardella viminea. This plant is very special because it is a federally listed endangered species. This means it is protected by law because there are very few of them left.
Images for kids
-
Monardella viminea — Willowy monardella
