Rock gilia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock gilia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gilia
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| Species: |
scopulorum
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Gilia scopulorum, also known as rock gilia or Rocky Mountain gilia, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the phlox family. This plant naturally grows in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts.
What it Looks Like
This wild plant grows a straight stem that can reach up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall. The stem branches out and grows from a group of long, straight leaves at the bottom. These bottom leaves are called a basal rosette.
Leaves and Stems
Each leaf is made of smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets have pointed edges, like tiny teeth. The whole plant, including its leaves and stems, feels a bit hairy. It also has glands that make it sticky. The stem branches have tiny black hairs on them.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the rock gilia are beautiful. They are about one to two centimeters (less than an inch) wide. Their color can be lavender or purple. The center of the flower is usually yellowish or white. After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is a small capsule, about half a centimeter wide. Inside the capsule, there are many tiny seeds.
Where it Grows
The rock gilia is native to two large desert areas: the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Desert. These deserts are found in parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. This plant is well-suited to living in these dry, rocky environments.
