Mexican fire cracker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican fire cracker |
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| Echeveria setosa var. ciliata | |
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Echeveria
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| Species: |
setosa
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Echeveria setosa, often called the Mexican fire cracker, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family, which includes many other succulent plants. This plant naturally grows in dry, desert-like areas of Mexico, especially around Puebla.
Contents
What Does the Mexican Fire Cracker Plant Look Like?
The Mexican fire cracker plant is an evergreen succulent. This means it stays green all year and has thick parts that store water. It usually grows to about 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) tall and can spread out to 30 centimeters (12 inches) wide.
Its leaves grow in a round shape, like a rose, which is called a rosette. The leaves are thick and spoon-shaped, and they are covered in tiny white hairs. These hairs are called glochids. If you touch them, they might make your skin feel a little itchy or irritated, so it's best to look and not touch!
In the spring, this plant grows tall stalks, up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. At the top of these stalks, you'll see bright red flowers with yellow tips, which look a bit like tiny firecrackers.
Different Kinds of Mexican Fire Cracker Plants
Just like there are different types of apples, there are also different types, or "varieties," of Echeveria setosa. These varieties have slight differences in how they look or where they grow. Some of the known varieties include:
- Echeveria setosa var. ciliata
- Echeveria setosa var. deminuta
- Echeveria setosa var. minor
- Echeveria setosa var. oteroi
- Echeveria setosa var. setosa
How to Grow the Mexican Fire Cracker Plant
People often grow Echeveria setosa as an ornamental plant because it looks so pretty. In places with warm, sunny weather all year, like Southern California, you can grow it outdoors.
However, if you live in a colder area, this plant needs to be kept warm. It likes temperatures above 7°C (45°F). So, in cooler places, it's usually grown indoors in a greenhouse or a sunny spot in your home. You can move it outside during the warm summer months, but remember to bring it back inside before it gets too cold.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name Echeveria honors Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy. He was a talented artist who drew plants for a famous book called Flora Mexicana.
The second part of the name, setosa, comes from a Latin word. It means 'covered with stiff, bristly hairs', which perfectly describes the fuzzy leaves of this plant!
See also
In Spanish: Echeveria setosa para niños
