Austin's popcornflower facts for kids

Plagiobothrys austiniae, commonly called Austin's popcornflower, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family. This plant is native to California, where it grows in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills. You can also find it in southern Oregon.

What is Austin's Popcornflower?

Austin's popcornflower is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It's a small plant, usually growing between 10 and 40 centimeters tall. That's about 4 to 16 inches.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant loves wet places! You can often find Austin's popcornflower in moist or wet areas. A common place for it to grow is around vernal pools. Vernal pools are special ponds that fill with water in the spring and then dry up later in the year. The plant thrives in these unique, temporary wet spots.

What Does It Look Like?

Austin's popcornflower has stems that can either spread out along the ground or stand upright. The whole plant is covered in rough hairs, which can make it feel a bit prickly if you touch it.

Leaves and Stems

Its leaves grow along the stem. The biggest leaves are usually found closer to the bottom of the plant. These larger leaves can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long.

Tiny White Flowers

The plant produces many tiny flowers in a group called an inflorescence. Each individual flower is very small, less than 3 millimeters (about 0.1 inches) wide. They have five white petals, which form a small, cup-like shape. These little white flowers are what give the plant its "popcornflower" name, as they can look like tiny pieces of popcorn.

Prickly Seeds

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces its fruit. The fruit is a small, dry seed called a nutlet. These nutlets are bristly and have small prickles along their middle ridges. This helps them to spread and grow new plants.