Parish's popcornflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parish's popcornflower |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Plagiobothrys
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| Species: |
parishii
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Parish's popcornflower, also known as Plagiobothrys parishii, is a special kind of flowering plant. It is quite rare and belongs to the borage family.
Where It Lives
This plant is found only in a few places in southeastern California. It grows in the Owens Valley in Inyo and Mono counties. You can also find it in the Lucerne Valley area of the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County.
Parish's popcornflower likes to grow on mud flats and near desert springs. It can be found in places that are a bit wet, like wetlands or areas along rivers. These areas are often part of Joshua tree woodland or Great Basin sagebrush scrub habitats. It grows at elevations from about 750 to 2,210 meters (2,460 to 7,250 feet) high.
What It Looks Like
Parish's popcornflower is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, blooms, makes new seeds, and then dies all within one year. Its stems grow low to the ground and can reach up to about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. The plant is covered in short, soft hairs.
The plant has many tiny flowers grouped together. Each flower is about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide and has five small lobes. The flowers are white, and usually have bright yellow parts in their center. Parish's popcornflower blooms from March to June.
Why It's Important
Parish's popcornflower is listed as a critically endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The California Native Plant Society keeps track of rare and endangered plants, and this one is on their list.
One of the main threats to this plant is groundwater pumping. This happens when too much water is taken from underground. When groundwater levels drop, the mud flats and desert springs where the popcornflower lives can dry up. This makes it hard for the plant to survive. Protecting these wet areas is important to help Parish's popcornflower continue to grow.
