Purple mountain heath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purple mountain heath |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phyllodoce (plant)
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| Species: |
breweri
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Phyllodoce breweri is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the Ericaceae family, which also includes blueberries and rhododendrons! This plant is often called purple mountain heath or Brewer's mountain heather.
You can find this plant growing naturally in the mountains of California. It also grows in Nevada. It loves rocky places high up in the mountains, like slopes and meadows, where the air is cool. These areas are called subalpine zones.
Discovering the Purple Mountain Heath
Phyllodoce breweri is a small, mat-like shrub. It has many short stems that are covered with tough, needle-like leaves. These leaves stay green all year round, even in winter!
The Unique Flowers of Phyllodoce breweri
The flowers of this plant are very special. They grow in clusters at the ends of the stems. You might also see some flowers growing where the leaves meet the stem.
The flowers are a bright purple-pink color. They look like tiny cups because their petals are joined together. Only the very tips of the petals curl outwards. Inside each flower, you'll see a yellow part called the ovary. This is where the seeds will form. There are also ten long parts sticking out, called stamens. Each stamen has a large tip called an anther, which holds the pollen.
