Chaparral pea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chaparral pea
Pickeringia montana subsp. tomentosa
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Pickeringia Nutt ex Torr & A. Gray
Species:	P. montana
Binomial name
Pickeringia montana Torr & A. Gray
Subspecies
See text.
Synonyms
Pickeringia Nutt. Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa (Abrams) I. M. Johnst. Xylothermia Greene Xylothermia montana (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene Xylothermia montana subsp. tomentosa Abrams

Pickeringia is a special group of flowering plants. It belongs to the legume family, called Fabaceae. This group has only one type of plant in it, which is why it's called a monotypic genus. The plant was named after a naturalist named Charles Pickering.

The only species in this group is Pickeringia montana. Most people know it as the chaparral pea. This plant grows only in California in the United States. You can find it along the Coast Ranges, the Peninsular Ranges, and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It also grows on Santa Cruz Island.

The chaparral pea is one of the few legumes that naturally grows in the chaparral habitat. This is a type of shrubland with tough, woody plants. The chaparral pea is very good at nitrogen fixation. This means it can take nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil. This helps it grow well in rocky, sandy ground. The plant is also great for hills, slopes, and areas that have recently had fires. Its roots spread out quickly and help hold the loose soil in place. This stops the soil from washing away, which is called erosion.

What is the Chaparral Pea Like?

The chaparral pea usually doesn't grow from seeds. Instead, new stems often sprout from its roots, which spread out from the main plant. It forms thick, low bushes with sharp thorns. Its leaves are shiny and dark green.

Flowers and Seeds

In spring and summer, the chaparral pea blooms with bright magenta flowers. After flowering, it grows pods that look like peas. These pods hold the pea-like seeds inside.

Different Types of Chaparral Pea

There are two main types, or subspecies, of chaparral pea:

• Pickeringia montana subsp. montana: This type is found all over California.
• Pickeringia montana subsp. tomentosa: This type is sometimes called the woolly chaparral pea. It grows only in the hills of southern California.