Kleinia neriifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kleinia neriifolia |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kleinia
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| Species: |
neriifolia
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| Native range of K. neriifolia. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Senecio kleinia Less. |
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The Kleinia neriifolia, often called verode or berode in Spanish, is a cool plant from the daisy family (Asteraceae). It's a special kind of plant because it only grows naturally in the Canary Islands. This means it is endemic to that area. It used to be known by a different name, Senecio kleinia.
What Does It Look Like?
The Kleinia neriifolia is a type of succulent plant. This means it stores water in its thick parts, like its stems and leaves.
Its branches look like they are made of many small parts joined together, almost like a string of sausages! The plant also has thick, short, and long leaves. These leaves can grow up to about 12 centimeters (5 inches) long. They grow directly from the main stem or branch, without a small stalk connecting them. The leaves are usually grouped together in circles at the top of the branches.
This plant can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching 3 meters (10 feet) or even more. Between March and October, you might see its lovely, fragrant grey-white flowers.
The Kleinia neriifolia is a deciduous plant. This means its leaves fall off when the dry season begins, just like some trees lose their leaves in autumn.
How It Reproduces
Like many succulents, you can grow new Kleinia neriifolia plants from cuttings. This means you can cut off a piece of the plant and plant it, and it will grow into a new plant.
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Flowers
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Achenes (seeds)
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Leafless in the dry season
Where Does It Grow?
You can find Kleinia neriifolia growing a lot in the Tabaibal-Cardonal zone. This area is very dry and subtropical, with often steep and rocky ground. These conditions are especially common in the eastern parts of the Canary Islands.
The plants in this area can be compared to those found in dry, grassy regions like parts of Sudan, Ethiopia, Arabia, and Iran. It's a typical plant for the steppe areas of the African continent.
Growing This Plant
People often use Kleinia neriifolia in gardens, especially in places where it doesn't rain much. This plant needs at least some sun to grow well. It can handle cold temperatures down to about -2°C (28°F) in winter.
Kleinia neriifolia has been grown successfully both as a houseplant and for outdoor landscaping. It's even suggested as a good plant to use in landscaping to help prevent fires, as it doesn't burn easily.
See also
In Spanish: Verode o verol para niños
