Laguna Mountains jewelflower facts for kids

Streptanthus bernardinus is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the mustard family, just like the mustard you might put on a hot dog! People often call it the Laguna Mountains jewelflower or Laguna Mountain jewelflower. This plant is known for its pretty flowers and unique look.

Where the Laguna Mountains Jewelflower Grows

This plant is native to two main areas: southern California in the United States and northern Baja California in Mexico. It likes to grow in mountain ranges.

You can find it in the Transverse Ranges near Los Angeles. It also lives in the Peninsular Ranges further south. These ranges include the Laguna Mountains east of San Diego. In Baja California, it grows in the Sierra de Juárez and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir mountains.

The Laguna Mountains jewelflower prefers certain types of homes. It grows in temperate coniferous forests, which are forests with cone-bearing trees like pines. It also likes chaparral areas, which are places with tough shrubs and small trees, usually found on mountain slopes.

What the Laguna Mountains Jewelflower Looks Like

The Streptanthus bernardinus is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years, and its stem is not woody like a tree trunk. It grows from a woody base called a caudex, which is like a thick, short stem at the ground level.

From this base, a straight stem grows upwards. It can reach a height of about 60 to 80 centimeters, which is almost as tall as a typical 12-year-old! The plant usually feels smooth because it's hairless. Sometimes, it might even have a waxy feel.

Leaves of the Plant

The leaves at the bottom of the plant, called basal leaves, are wide and shaped like a spear. They can be up to 8 centimeters long and 2.5 centimeters wide. These leaves have small stalks, called petioles, that connect them to the main stem.

Higher up on the stem, the leaves become narrower. They are also spear-shaped. These upper leaves might wrap around the stem a little bit at their bases.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the Laguna Mountains jewelflower grow in groups along the upper part of the stem. Each flower has a bell-shaped part called a calyx. This calyx is made of greenish, yellow, or white sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They are just under a centimeter long.

From the top of the calyx, white petals emerge. These are the showy parts of the flower that attract pollinators.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a long, thin pod called a silique. It can be anywhere from 8 to 12 centimeters long, or even longer! Inside these pods are the seeds of the plant.