Florida celestial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Florida celestial |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nemastylis
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| Species: |
floridana
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The Nemastylis floridana is a beautiful flowering plant. People often call it the Florida celestial, fallflowering pleatleaf, or fallflowering ixia. This special plant grows only in Florida, United States. It faces some challenges, but it is still surviving well.
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What is the Florida Celestial?
This plant is the only type of Nemastylis found in Florida. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a small bulb that is about 1.5 centimeters wide. The plant sends up a thin stem that can reach up to 1.5 meters tall. That's taller than most kids!
What Does It Look Like?
The stem usually has a few branches. It also has long, thin leaves. These leaves are no wider than 1 centimeter. The leaves at the bottom of the plant are the longest. They can be 4 or 5 centimeters long. Leaves closer to the top of the stem are much smaller.
The plant's flowers grow in a cluster called a rhipidium. Each cluster usually has two flowers. Each flower has six dark blue tepals. Tepals are like petals and sepals combined. They can be up to 2 centimeters long. After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a capsule that can grow to almost a centimeter long.
When Does It Bloom?
The Florida celestial blooms in the summer and early fall. Its flowers open in the afternoon. This usually happens between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM. Most often, they open between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
These flowers are pollinated by bees. Two specific types of female halictid bees are especially important for this plant. They help the plant make seeds.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant likes wet, swampy places. You can find it near marshes. It also grows in hammocks and flatwoods. It often lives among saw palmettos and cabbage palms. These are common plants in Florida.
Why Is It Important?
The Florida celestial is a local plant. It has been found in thirteen counties in eastern Florida. Sadly, it is now thought to be gone from Broward County. Most of these plants grow near the St. Johns River.
There are many groups of these plants. One count found 23 different groups. Some of these groups are very large. The plant is common in a few areas where its habitat is well cared for.
However, the plant faces serious threats. The biggest problem is that Florida's wild lands are being damaged or destroyed. This happens when land is drained and cleared. It is used for homes, stores, and farms. Roadside maintenance also harms the plants.
Another issue is fire suppression. This means preventing natural wildfires. This plant actually needs fires to clear the land every few years. After a fire, you can often see many more of these beautiful flowers bloom. Protecting its habitat is key to its survival.
