Large-flowered rushlily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large-flowered rushlily |
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Hastingsia bracteosa is a special and rare flowering plant. It is also known as the large-flowered rushlily. This plant belongs to the agave subfamily of the asparagus family. It grows only in a small area of Oregon in the United States. This area is a twelve-mile stretch of the Illinois Valley.
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What is the Large-Flowered Rushlily?
The large-flowered rushlily is a unique plant. It grows from a dark, round underground part called a bulb. From this bulb, gray-green leaves grow up to 52 centimeters (about 20 inches) long.
What Does it Look Like?
A tall, thin stem, called a scape, grows straight up from the plant. This stem can reach up to 87 centimeters (about 34 inches) tall. At the very top of this stem, you will find a cluster of many flowers. This flower cluster is called an inflorescence. It is shaped like a raceme, where flowers grow along a central stalk. Each flower has parts called tepals. These are like petals and sepals combined, and they are about 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) long.
Flower Colors
Interestingly, some of these plants have white flowers. Others produce beautiful purple flowers. When white and purple flowered plants grow near each other, they can even mix. This mixing can create lovely pink flowers! White-flowered plants are usually found in the northern part of the plant's small home range. Purple plants grow more in the southern part. There is one special meadow where both types grow together and create pink ones. For a while, the purple-flowered plants were thought to be a different species. But scientists now agree they are all part of the same Hastingsia bracteosa family.
Its Special Home
This plant loves wet places. It grows on open, wet slopes, like those found in bogs. You can also find it in other wet areas. These include fens (a type of wetland), springs, and wet meadows.
Serpentine Soils
The large-flowered rushlily often grows in areas with special serpentine soils. These soils are unique because they have certain minerals that many other plants cannot handle. But Hastingsia bracteosa thrives in them!
Plant Neighbors
In these special wet places, Hastingsia bracteosa grows alongside other interesting plants. Some of its neighbors include the unique pitcher plant Darlingtonia californica. Other plants found nearby are Helenium bigelovii and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. It is often seen in serpentine fens that are mostly covered by Darlingtonia. You might also spot Gentiana setigera, Castilleja miniata ssp. elata, and Rudbeckia californica growing close by.
