Linanthus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linanthus
Linanthus demissus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Polemoniaceae
Genus:	Linanthus Benth.
Species
about 15, see text

Linanthus is a group of plants that can be either annuals (meaning they live for one year) or perennials (meaning they live for many years). These plants belong to the phlox family, which is scientifically known as Polemoniaceae. You can find Linanthus plants growing in western North America and in Chile. Most of the different kinds of Linanthus are found in California.

What Do Linanthus Plants Look Like?

Stems and Leaves

Linanthus plants usually have stems that stand up straight. Many branches grow directly from the bottom of the plant. These stems can grow to be about 2 to 15 centimeters (about 1 to 6 inches) tall.

The leaves of Linanthus plants grow opposite each other on the stem. They can be simple and whole, or they can be shaped like a hand with several parts (lobes). These lobes are usually long and thin, or shaped like a spear or a spoon. There are typically 3 to 9 lobes on each leaf.

Flowers

The flowers of Linanthus plants have a tube-shaped outer part called a calyx. The main part of the flower, made of petals (called the corolla), can have different shapes. It might look like a funnel, a bell, or even a flat plate with a narrow tube at its base.

Why the Name Linanthus?

The name Linanthus comes from two Greek words. "Linon" means "flax," and "anthos" means "flower." So, Linanthus means "flax flower." This is because the flowers of Linanthus look a bit like the flowers of the flax plant.

Changes in the Plant Family Tree

Recently, scientists have made some changes to how Linanthus plants are grouped. Many species that used to be part of the Linanthus group have now been moved to a different group called Leptosiphon. This helps scientists better understand the relationships between different plants.

Types of Linanthus Plants

Here are some of the different kinds of Linanthus plants:

• Linanthus bellus
• Linanthus bigelovii
• Linanthus concinnus
• Linanthus demissus
• Linanthus dianthiflorus
• Linanthus dichotomus
• Linanthus filiformis
• Linanthus inyoensis
• Linanthus jonesii
• Linanthus killipii
• Linanthus maculatus
• Linanthus orcuttii
• Linanthus parryae
• Linanthus pungens
• Linanthus watsonii

Plants That Moved to Leptosiphon

These are some of the plants that used to be called Linanthus but are now part of the Leptosiphon group:

• Leptosiphon acicularis
• Leptosiphon ambiguus
• Leptosiphon androsaceus
• Leptosiphon arenicola
• Leptosiphon aureus
• Leptosiphon bicolor
• Leptosiphon bolanderi
• Leptosiphon breviculus
• Leptosiphon ciliatus
• Leptosiphon filipes
• Leptosiphon floribundus
• Leptosiphon grandiflorus
• Leptosiphon harknessii
• Leptosiphon lemmonii
• Leptosiphon liniflorus
• Leptosiphon montanus
• Leptosiphon nudatus
• Leptosiphon nuttallii
• Leptosiphon oblanceolatus
• Leptosiphon pachyphyllus
• Leptosiphon parviflorus
• Leptosiphon pygmaeus
• Leptosiphon rattanii
• Leptosiphon septentrionalis
• Leptosiphon serrulatus

See also

In Spanish: Linanthus para niños