Ottleya strigosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ottleya strigosa |
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Ottleya strigosa is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the pea family, which is called Fabaceae. This plant is also known by its common names, stiff-haired lotus or strigose bird's-foot trefoil. You can find it growing naturally in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
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About the Stiff-Haired Lotus
Ottleya strigosa is an annual herb. This means it lives for only one year and grows low to the ground. Its name, "stiff-haired," comes from how it sometimes looks. The plant can be rough and hairy. But it can also be woolly, fuzzy, or even almost smooth.
Plant Parts
The plant has thin branches. These branches are covered with leaves. Each leaf is made up of several smaller parts called leaflets. The leaves are usually about 1/2 inch to 1 inch long.
Leaflets and Flowers
The leaflets are arranged like a feather. This is called being pinnately divided. There are usually 4 to 9 leaflets on each leaf. They are shaped like an egg, but wider at the top. These leaflets grow along a flat central stem.
The plant produces small clusters of flowers. These clusters are called an inflorescence. Each cluster has one or two flowers. The flowers look like tiny peas. They can be yellow, orange, or red. Each flower is about one half to one centimeter wide.
Fruit of the Plant
After the flowers bloom, the plant grows a fruit. This fruit is a type of legume pod. It looks like a small pea pod. The pods are usually 1 to 3 centimeters long.
Where the Stiff-Haired Lotus Grows
The Ottleya strigosa plant is native to certain areas. You can find it in the southwestern United States. This includes states like California and Nevada. It also grows in northern Mexico. This plant is quite tough. It can grow in many different kinds of places. You might even see it in areas that have been disturbed, like roadsides.
