Frasera parryi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frasera parryi |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Frasera
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| Species: |
parryi
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| Synonyms | |
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Swertia parryi |
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The Coahuila frasera (scientific name: Frasera parryi) is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the gentian family. Sometimes, it's also called Swertia parryi, which is an older name for it.
This plant naturally grows in sunny southern California and nearby Baja California in Mexico. You can also find it in Arizona. It likes to live in oak woodlands and chaparral areas. These are places with lots of oak trees and tough, shrubby plants.
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About the Coahuila Frasera
The Coahuila frasera is a type of plant called a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows one or two tall, straight stems. These stems can reach up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) high. That's taller than most kids!
Leaves of the Plant
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are long and thin. They can be shaped like a spear or a strap. They have pointed tips and can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long.
Leaves higher up on the stem are a bit wider and more oval. They are smaller than the bottom leaves. These leaves grow in pairs, one across from the other. All the leaves are green with pretty white edges.
Flowers of the Coahuila Frasera
The flowers grow in a tall, open cluster at the top of the stem. This cluster is called an inflorescence. Each flower has four pointed parts called sepals. These sepals protect the flower bud.
The main part of the flower is called the corolla. It also has four pointed parts, or lobes. Each lobe is about 1 to 2 centimeters long. The corolla is greenish with small purple spots. Near the bottom of each lobe, there's a fuzzy fringe of hairs.
Inside the flower, you'll find four stamens. These are the parts that make pollen. They have large tips called anthers. In the very center, there's an ovary. This is where the seeds will grow after the flower is pollinated.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the Coahuila frasera flower.
