Mentzelia laevicaulis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mentzelia laevicaulis |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mentzelia
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| Species: |
laevicaulis
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The Mentzelia laevicaulis, also known as the giant blazingstar or smoothstem blazingstar, is a beautiful wild flower. It grows naturally in the western parts of North America. You can often spot this plant in many places, especially in sandy or rocky areas. It also likes to grow in places where the ground has been disturbed, like along roadsides.
Discovering the Giant Blazingstar
This amazing plant can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching about three feet high! It has a stem that branches out, and it's usually a whitish-green color.
What Does It Look Like?
The stem and its branches have a few leaves that are shaped like triangles with jagged edges, almost like a saw. When the plant produces seeds, they are found inside small, dry containers called capsule fruits. These seeds have tiny "wings" that help them fly away in the wind!
The Spectacular Flower
At the end of each branch, a truly amazing yellow flower blooms. These flowers are shaped like stars and have five long, pointed petals. Each petal can be up to three inches long and has a shiny yellow surface.
Right between the petals, you'll see thin, yellow parts called sepals. The very center of the flower is packed with many fuzzy, yellow parts called stamens. These stamens are important for the plant's reproduction. Below the petals, there are long, curling leaf-like structures called bracts.
