Mouse's eye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mouse's eye |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bernardia
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| Species: |
myricifolia
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| Synonyms | |
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Bernardia incana |
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Bernardia myricifolia is a type of flowering plant in the spurge family. It is often called mouse's eye or mouse ear. In Spanish, it is known as oreja de ratón. This plant grows naturally in the desert areas of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
It is a shrub that can grow taller than two meters (about 6.5 feet). Its small leaves are usually up to three centimeters long. They are oval-shaped and have edges that look like tiny scallops.
Contents
About the Mouse's Eye Plant
The mouse's eye plant is a shrub that thrives in dry, desert environments. It is well-adapted to these tough conditions. This plant is an important part of the desert ecosystem. It provides habitat and resources for various desert creatures.
What Does It Look Like?
The Bernardia myricifolia is a medium-sized shrub. It can reach heights of over two meters. Its branches are covered with small, green leaves. Each leaf is typically about three centimeters long. The leaves have an oval shape. Their edges are not smooth but have small, rounded teeth, like the edge of a scallop shell.
How Does It Reproduce?
This plant is a dioecious species. This means that male and female flowers grow on separate plants. You will find male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another.
Male and Female Flowers
Male plants produce small groups of male flowers. These clusters are called staminate inflorescences. Female plants have single female flowers. These are called pistillate inflorescences.
The Fruit and Seeds
After the female flowers are pollinated, they develop into fruit. The fruit is a round, fuzzy capsule. It has three clear sections inside. Each of these sections holds a single seed.
