Blair's wirelettuce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blair's wirelettuce |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Kingdom: | |
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| Genus: |
Munzothamnus
(Raven)
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| Species: |
M. blairii
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| Binomial name | |
| Munzothamnus blairii (Munz & I.M.Johnst.) Raven
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| Synonyms | |
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Malacothrix blairii |
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Munzothamnus blairii, also known as Blair's wirelettuce, is a very special flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, which includes many common flowers like sunflowers and dandelions. This plant is unique because it's the only species in its group, called a monotypic genus. This means it's the only plant of its kind in the Munzothamnus genus.
This rare plant grows only on San Clemente Island. This island is one of the Channel Islands off the coast of California. It loves to grow on steep, rocky cliffs and in canyons.
Contents
Blair's Wirelettuce: A Special Plant
Blair's wirelettuce is a type of shrub. It has a thick, fuzzy stem that usually grows over one meter (about 3 feet) tall. Some plants can even reach two meters (about 6.5 feet) in height!
What Does It Look Like?
The leaves of Blair's wirelettuce grow in bunches at the ends of its branches. Each leaf can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. They are shaped like an oblong, which is a bit like a stretched circle. Sometimes, they have very shallow lobes, like tiny bumps along the edges.
When the leaves are new, they feel soft and woolly. But as they get older, they lose their fuzz and become shiny green.
Its Unique Flowers
The plant produces many flower heads in a large group. There can be up to 35 flower heads in one group! Each flower head has a tube-shaped base that is less than a centimeter long. Inside each head, you'll find 9 to 12 small flowers. These flowers are usually light lavender or pinkish in color.
Each tiny flower is a "ray floret." It has a straight tube and a strap-shaped part called a ligule. The ligule has a tip that looks like it has small teeth. This part is just under a centimeter long.
Seeds and Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a cylindrical, ribbed achene. An achene is a small, dry fruit that contains one seed. On top of the achene, there is a white, feathery part called a pappus. This pappus helps the seed float away in the wind, like a tiny parachute.
Protecting This Rare Plant
Many plants that grow only on the Channel Islands faced a big challenge. Wild goats, called feral goats, used to live on the islands. These goats would eat many of the rare plants, including Blair's wirelettuce. This made the plant very rare.
However, the goats have now been removed from the island. This is great news for Blair's wirelettuce and other unique island plants. With the goats gone, these special plants have a better chance to grow and thrive again. Protecting plants like Blair's wirelettuce helps keep our planet's biodiversity rich and healthy.
See also
In Spanish: Munzothamnus para niños
