Mojave desertparsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mojave desertparsley |
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Selineae
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L. mohavense
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| Lomatium mohavense J.M.Coult. & Rose
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The Mojave desertparsley (scientific name: Lomatium mohavense) is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the carrot family, just like the carrots you might eat! This plant is special because it grows in the dry, sunny areas of the Mojave Desert and nearby regions.
You can find the Mojave desertparsley mostly in southern California. It also grows in a few spots in Arizona, Nevada, and Baja California in Mexico. It likes to live in different kinds of mountain and desert places. These include chaparral (areas with shrubs), woodlands, and scrublands.
What the Mojave Desertparsley Looks Like
The Mojave desertparsley is a plant that comes back year after year. This means it's a perennial herb. It has a hairy, gray-green color. The plant usually grows to be about 10 to 40 centimeters tall. That's like the length of a ruler or a bit more!
It grows from a long, deep root called a taproot. This root helps it find water deep underground. Most of the time, this plant doesn't have a main stem above the ground. Its leaves and flowers grow directly from the ground.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Mojave desertparsley can be quite long, up to 20 centimeters. They are very detailed, divided into many tiny parts. These small parts are grouped closely together.
The flowers grow in a special shape called an umbel. An umbel looks like an umbrella turned upside down. All the flower stalks come from one central point. The flowers themselves can be yellow, brownish, or even a dark purple color.
