Mojave beardtongue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mojave beardtongue |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Penstemon
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| Species: |
incertus
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Penstemon incertus is a special kind of plant. It is often called the Mojave beardtongue. This plant is found only in California, which means it is endemic to that state. You can find it growing in many mountain ranges in southeastern California. These include the southern parts of the Sierra Nevada, the Tehachapi Mountains, and the mountains of the Mojave Desert.
This plant likes to grow in scrublands and woodlands. It often lives among Joshua Trees. You can also spot it in sandy areas called washes, which are like dry streambeds.
About the Mojave Beardtongue
The Mojave beardtongue is a type of shrub. It grows in a rounded shape with many branches. It can stand tall, reaching up to one meter (about 3 feet) in height.
What It Looks Like
The leaves of this plant are quite thick. They are long and narrow, like a spear or a lance. Their edges are rolled and do not have any teeth. These leaves can grow up to 7 centimeters (about 2.7 inches) long.
The plant also has special parts called glands. These glands produce a sticky substance. The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. Each flower is shaped like a wide-mouthed tube or a funnel. They are about 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.
Flower Colors and Parts
The flowers of the Mojave beardtongue are a beautiful blue-purple color. The outside of the flowers is covered in tiny glands. Inside, the flowers are mostly smooth, without much hair. However, there is one special part called the staminode that is hairy. The staminode is a sterile stamen, which means it doesn't produce pollen.
