Veatch's blazingstar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veatch's blazingstar |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mentzelia
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| Species: |
veatchiana
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Mentzelia veatchiana is a type of flowering plant. It is often called Veatch's blazingstar. This plant belongs to the Loasaceae family.
You can find Veatch's blazingstar in the western United States. It grows in Oregon, southern Idaho, California, and Arizona. It also lives in northwestern Mexico, in Baja California and Sonora. This plant likes many different places. It grows in grasslands, scrubby areas called chaparral, woodlands, and deserts. It usually lives below 2,400 meters (about 8,000 feet) in elevation.
About Veatch's Blazingstar
Veatch's blazingstar is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and dies all in one year. It has many branches and is covered in small hairs. The plant can grow up to 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant can be up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long. The leaves near the bottom of the plant are often lobed. They might have a small stalk. The leaves higher up on the stem sit directly on the stem. These leaves usually have lobes or jagged edges.
The flowers grow in a group at the end of the stems. These groups are called an inflorescence. Small leaf-like parts called bracts are found near the flowers. These bracts are mostly oval-shaped with teeth or lobes. Sometimes they are smooth.
The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud, are 1 to 5 millimeters long. The petals are usually orange to yellow. They often have red or orange parts at their base. These petals are generally 4 to 7 millimeters long.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is called a utricle. It is about 1 to 3 centimeters long. Inside the utricle are many tiny seeds. These seeds have sharp, angled shapes.
See also
In Spanish: Mentzelia veatchiana para niños
