Kalmiopsis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kalmiopsis
Kalmiopsis leachiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Subfamily:	Ericoideae
Tribe:	Phyllodoceae
Genus:	Kalmiopsis Rehder
Species
2, see text

Kalmiopsis is a special group of flowering plants. They belong to the Ericaceae family. This family also includes plants like heather and rhododendron. These unique plants are only found in Oregon, United States.

Discovering Kalmiopsis Plants

What is Kalmiopsis?

Kalmiopsis is a small genus of plants. A genus is like a family group for plants. It contains two known types of plants. These plants are known for their pretty flowers. They are part of the Ericaceae family. This family has many well-known plants.

Where Do They Live?

Both types of Kalmiopsis plants are endemic to Oregon. This means they grow naturally only in Oregon. They are not found anywhere else in the world. This makes them very special. They often grow in rocky, mountainous areas.

The Two Kalmiopsis Species

For a long time, scientists thought there was only one type of Kalmiopsis. This was Kalmiopsis leachiana. A group with only one type is called a monotypic genus. But in 2007, scientists found another type. They named it Kalmiopsis fragrans. It was once thought to be just a form of K. leachiana. Now, it is its own unique species.

Here are the two species of Kalmiopsis:

Image	Scientific name	Common name	Where it grows
	Kalmiopsis leachiana	Kalmiopsis	Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon
	Kalmiopsis fragrans	North Umpqua kalmiopsis	Douglas County, Oregon.