Mountain pride facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain pride |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Penstemon
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| Species: |
newberryi
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Penstemon newberryi is a beautiful wild flower often called mountain pride or Newberry's penstemon. It belongs to a group of plants known as penstemons. This plant is special because of its bright, showy flowers.
You can find this plant growing naturally in the mountains. It lives in northern California, Oregon, and Nevada. It loves rocky places, especially high up in the mountains. Imagine finding it growing among loose rocks on a steep slope!
Contents
What Does it Look Like?
Penstemon newberryi is a small, bushy plant. It grows like a mat and can reach about 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall. It's considered a subshrub, which means it's a small, woody plant.
Leaves and Stems
Most of its leaves grow near the bottom of the plant. They are shaped like ovals and have small teeth along their edges. These leaves are usually 1 to 4 centimeters long. You might also see a few smaller pairs of leaves along its main stem.
Amazing Flowers
The flowers of the mountain pride are truly eye-catching! They are a bright, beautiful magenta color. Each flower is about 2 to 3 centimeters long. They grow in a cluster, which is called an inflorescence. This cluster can feel a bit sticky because it's "glandular."
The flowers are shaped like tubes or funnels. If you look closely inside the flower's opening, you'll see tiny hairs. These hairs can be short or long and curly. There are also hairs on a special part inside the flower called a staminode. A staminode is like a "fake" stamen that doesn't produce pollen.
Where It Grows
This plant thrives in tough mountain environments. It prefers rocky areas and can often be found in places with lots of loose stones. These high-elevation spots are its natural home. It's a tough plant that can handle the mountain weather!
Growing Mountain Pride in Your Garden
Even though it's a wild mountain flower, Penstemon newberryi can also be grown in gardens. In the United Kingdom, it has even won an award! The Royal Horticultural Society gave it their Award of Garden Merit. This means it's a great plant for gardeners.
If you want to grow it, this plant can handle many different spots. But it really needs a lot of sunshine to grow well. So, pick a sunny spot in your garden!
A Famous Fan
Did you know that Penstemon newberryi was the favorite flower of John Muir? He was a very famous American naturalist and writer. He loved exploring and protecting wild places, especially mountains. It's cool to think that this beautiful flower was special to him!
How It Got Its Name
The second part of the plant's scientific name, newberryi, is a tribute. It honors an American geologist and botanist named John Strong Newberry. He lived from 1822 to 1892. Scientists often name new species after people who have helped with science or exploration.
