Koeberlinia spinosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Koeberlinia spinosa |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Koeberlinia
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| Species: |
spinosa
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| Natural range | |
The Koeberlinia spinosa is a unique flowering plant found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. People know it by many names, like crown of thorns, allthorn, and crucifixion thorn. It's a special kind of plant because it's one of only two species in its group, Koeberlinia. Some scientists even think it's the only plant in its own family, the Koeberliniaceae! Others place it with the caper family.
About the Allthorn Plant
This plant is a shrub that can grow quite large. It can spread out and reach heights of over 4 meters (about 13 feet). The entire plant looks green when it's growing. It has many straight, tangled stems that branch out again and again.
What Does It Look Like?
Each stiff stem branch ends in a long, very sharp spine. This is why it's called "crown of thorns"! The leaves are very small and look like tiny scales. They usually fall off quickly. Most of the plant's food is made in its green stems. This process is called photosynthesis, where the plant uses sunlight to make energy.
Flowers and Fruits
The allthorn plant blooms with many white or greenish-white flowers. After the flowers, it grows shiny black berries. Each berry is only a few millimeters long. These berries are a tasty treat for birds.
Where Does It Grow?
You can find Koeberlinia spinosa in several dry, desert-like areas. It grows in the northern parts of the Mexican Plateau. It also spreads east into the lower mountains of the Sierra Madre Orientals. To the west, it lives in the southern and central Sonoran Desert in Sonora and southern Arizona. You can also spot it in parts of Baja California Sur, which is also part of the Sonoran Desert.
