Jamesia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jamesia |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Cornales |
| Family: | Hydrangeaceae |
| Subfamily: | Jamesioideae |
| Genus: | Jamesia Torr. & A.Gray |
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Jamesia is a group of plants, also called a genus, that includes two types of shrubs. These shrubs are often known as cliffbush or waxflower. They belong to the Hydrangeaceae family, which also includes the popular hydrangea plants.
These special shrubs grow naturally in the western parts of North America. You can find them in the U.S. states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. They like to grow in mountain areas, usually at high altitudes between 1,600 and 3,000 meters (about 5,200 to 9,800 feet) above sea level.
What is Jamesia?
The Jamesia genus has only two main types, or species:
- Jamesia americana
- Jamesia tetrapetala
These shrubs can grow to be about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6.5 feet) tall. They can also spread out quite wide, sometimes more than 3 meters (10 feet) across!
Leaves and Flowers
The Jamesia plant has leaves that grow in pairs opposite each other on the stem. Each leaf is usually 3 to 7 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) long and 2 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide. They have a bumpy, crinkled surface and edges that look like tiny saw teeth.
The flowers are very pretty. They grow in upright clusters called panicles at the ends of the branches. Each flower is white and measures about 15 to 20 millimeters (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) across. Most Jamesia flowers have five petals, but sometimes you might find one with four. After the flowers bloom, they produce a dry capsule that holds many tiny seeds.
How Jamesia Got Its Name
The Jamesia genus was named to honor a scientist named Edwin James. He was a botanist, which means he studied plants. In 1820, Edwin James was part of an important trip led by Stephen Long. This trip explored the land between the Platte and Arkansas Rivers.
During this expedition, Edwin James was the first person to collect this type of plant for scientific study. Because of his important discovery, the plant was named Jamesia in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Jamesia para niños
