Leptosiphon filipes facts for kids

The thread linanthus (Leptosiphon filipes) is a small flowering plant. It belongs to the phlox family. This plant is also known by its older scientific name, Linanthus filipes.

Where the Thread Linanthus Lives

The thread linanthus is a special plant because it grows only in California. This means it is endemic to California. You can mostly find it in the low hills of the western Sierra Nevada mountains. It also grows in the northern California Coast Ranges.

This plant prefers to live in certain places. It grows below 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) (about 4,265 feet) in elevation. You can spot it in oak woodlands, open grasslands, and yellow pine forests.

What the Thread Linanthus Looks Like

The thread linanthus is a very small plant. It is an annual herb, which means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all in one year. Its stem is very thin, like a thread, and can grow up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long.

Its leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. Each leaf is divided into very thin, straight parts. These parts are only a few millimeters long.

At the very top of the stem, you will find its tiny flower. Usually, there is just one flower per stem. Each flower is only a few millimeters wide. The flowers can be pink or white. They often have a bright yellow center, which is called the throat. The thread linanthus blooms from April to July.