White rock-rose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White rock-rose |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Helianthemum
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| Species: |
apenninum
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The white rock-rose, also known as Helianthemum apenninum, is a beautiful wild flower. It's a type of rock rose that grows mainly in dry, sunny places across Europe. You can often spot its pretty white flowers in grassy fields or rocky areas. This plant is part of the Cistaceae family.
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What is the White Rock-Rose?
The white rock-rose is a small, semi-woody bush that can grow up to 0.5 meters (about 20 inches) tall. It stands on its own and has roots that can go as deep as 0.3 meters (about 12 inches) into the ground. This plant is an evergreen, which means it keeps its leaves all year round, even in winter. It also makes its own food using sunlight, just like most plants.
Life Cycle and Leaves
The white rock-rose has a perennial life cycle, meaning it lives for many years. Its leaves are small, usually around 30 mm (about 1.2 inches) long. They are long and narrow, like a spear tip, and grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the stem. These leaves are covered with grayish or whitish hairs, especially on the underside, and their edges often curl inwards.
Beautiful Flowers!
You can see the white rock-rose flowering from March to July. Its flowers are white with bright yellow centers and yellow stamens (the parts that hold pollen). Each flower can be up to 30 mm (about 1.2 inches) wide.
Flower Details
Each flower has five petals. It also has three outer sepals, which are like small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. These sepals are hairy and striped. There are also two very small inner sepals. The flowers grow in clusters of 3 to 10 on a single stem. Sometimes, a tiny insect called the Marsh Marygold Moth (Micropterix calthella) visits these flowers.
Seeds and Spreading
After flowering, the white rock-rose produces dry fruits that contain its seeds. Each seed is very tiny, weighing about 0.9 mg. These seeds are spread through a process called autochory. This means the plant spreads its seeds by itself, often by simply dropping them or with the help of gravity.
