Owens Peak desertparsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Owens Peak desertparsley |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Tribe: |
Selineae
|
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
L. shevockii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lomatium shevockii R.L.Hartm. & Constance
|
|
Lomatium shevockii, also known as the Owens Peak desertparsley, is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the carrot family. This plant is special because it grows naturally in only one small area. This area is Kern County, California, specifically around Owens Peak. Owens Peak is one of the highest points in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Contents
About the Owens Peak Desertparsley
The Owens Peak desertparsley is a type of plant called a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a thin taproot, which is a main root that goes deep into the ground. This plant is quite small, usually growing no taller than about 12 centimeters (about 5 inches).
What It Looks Like
This plant usually doesn't have a visible stem above the ground. Its leaves and flowers grow right from the ground. The leaves are a waxy, gray-green color. They are made up of many tiny parts that have sharp teeth. These leaf parts are also a bit thick or fleshy.
The flowers of the Owens Peak desertparsley are tiny and purple. They grow in a special shape called an umbel. An umbel is like an umbrella, where all the flower stalks come from one point.
Where It Lives
This rare plant is found in only two places near Owens Peak. It likes to grow on rocky slopes, which are called talus slopes. It also grows on wooded slopes in the high mountains. These are places where rocks and small stones have fallen and collected.
Discovery of the Plant
The Lomatium shevockii was first found in 1984. Scientists then studied it and officially described it to the world in 1988. This was an important step to help protect this unique plant.
