Whitestem blazingstar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitestem blazingstar |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mentzelia
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| Species: |
albicaulis
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Mentzelia albicaulis is a cool plant with a few different names, like whitestem blazingstar or white-stemmed stickleaf. It's part of the Loasaceae family, which is also known as the stickleaf family. This plant grows naturally across a big part of western North America, from mountains to deserts.
What is the Whitestem Blazingstar?
Plant Features
The whitestem blazingstar is an annual plant. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, makes new seeds, and then dies all within one year. Its stem can grow up to 42 centimeters (about 16 inches) long. Sometimes it stands straight up, and other times it spreads out.
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are called the basal rosette. These leaves can be up to 11 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. They are divided into many small, comb-like parts. Leaves higher up on the stem are usually smaller.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of the whitestem blazingstar are bright and shiny yellow. Each flower has five petals. These petals are small, only about 2 to 7 millimeters long.
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is called a utricle. It looks like a narrow pod, either straight or slightly curved. The utricle can be 1 to 3 centimeters long. Inside, there are many seeds. These seeds have sharp edges and are covered in tiny bumps.
Where it Grows
You can find the whitestem blazingstar in many different places across western North America. It likes to grow in mountains, dry desert areas, and on high plateaus. It's a tough plant that can handle different kinds of environments.
