San Benito fritillary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Benito fritillary |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Order: | |
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| Genus: |
Fritillaria
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| Species: |
F. viridea
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| Binomial name | |
| Fritillaria viridea Kellogg
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Fritillaria viridea is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family. People often call it the San Benito fritillary. This plant is quite rare.
It grows only in a specific area of California. This area is known as the Central Coast Ranges. Here, it lives in chaparral areas and on serpentine soils. These are unique places where certain plants thrive. You can find confirmed records of this plant in San Benito and Monterey Counties. There are also unconfirmed reports from Fresno and San Luis Obispo Counties.
What Does the San Benito Fritillary Look Like?
This plant grows from a bulb, which is like a small underground storage organ. It is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It sends up a straight stem that can be 30 to 65 centimeters tall. That's about the length of a ruler!
Leaves and Flowers
The stem has several long, narrow leaves. These leaves can grow up to 10 centimeters long. The stem itself is smooth. At the very top of the stem, you'll find its beautiful flowers.
The flowers grow in a cluster called a raceme inflorescence. They are bell-shaped and usually nod downwards. Each flower has six parts called tepals. These tepals are like petals and sepals combined. They are usually one to two centimeters long. Their color can range from a light green to a very dark green.
