Spiny menodora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spiny menodora
Scientific classification
Genus:	Menodora
Species:	spinescens

The Spiny Menodora (Menodora spinescens) is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the olive family, just like the trees that give us olives! This plant gets its name because it has tiny spines on its branches.

Discovering the Spiny Menodora

The Spiny Menodora is a plant that naturally grows in the southwestern parts of the United States. You can find it in states like California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. It loves to grow in different kinds of places, from mountains and canyons to dry desert areas.

What Does It Look Like?

The Spiny Menodora is a type of shrub. This means it's a woody plant that's smaller than a tree and has many branches. It can grow up to about 90 centimeters (or about 3 feet) tall.

• Branches and Spines: Its stems grow straight up, and they branch out a lot. These branches can form a thick, bushy plant. The very ends of the smallest branches have little spines, which is how it got its name!
• Leaves: The leaves are green and feel a bit thick or fleshy. They are shaped like a long oval and are usually less than a centimeter long. You'll often see them growing in small groups or clusters on the branches. The plant also has a few short hairs on its surface.
• Flowers: The flowers of the Spiny Menodora are really pretty. When they are still buds, they look pink. But once they open up, they are mostly white. These flowers have a tube-like shape at their base. They grow in small groups where the leaves meet the stem.
• Fruit: After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a type of capsule, which is a dry fruit that splits open to release its seeds.