Kalmiopsis leachiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kalmiopsis leachiana |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kalmiopsis
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| Species: |
leachiana
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The Kalmiopsis leachiana, often called kalmiopsis, is a special and rare flowering plant. It grows only in the Siskiyou Mountains in southwest Oregon, USA. This plant is so unique that it is protected in a large area called the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. This wilderness covers about 179,755 acres (or 727 square kilometers).
A woman named Lilla Leach found this plant in 1930 in an area called Gold Basin. The kalmiopsis belongs to the plant family Ericaceae. This family also includes other well-known plants like Kalmia (also known as mountain-laurel) and Rhododendron.
What Kalmiopsis Looks Like
The kalmiopsis is an evergreen shrub. This means it stays green all year round. It usually grows to be about 10 to 30 centimeters (or 4 to 12 inches) tall.
Stems and Leaves
The plant has stems that stand straight up. Its leaves are arranged in a spiral pattern around the stem. Each leaf is about 2 to 3 centimeters long and 1 centimeter wide.
Flowers and Fruit
The kalmiopsis has beautiful pink-purple flowers. These flowers grow in groups of 6 to 9, called racemes. They might remind you of small Rhododendron flowers, but they are flatter. Each flower is about 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide. They have a star-like shape with five petals joined together.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a five-lobed capsule. When it is ready, the capsule splits open. This releases many tiny seeds, which can grow into new kalmiopsis plants.
