Profuseflower mesamint facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Profuseflower mesamint |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pogogyne
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| Species: |
floribunda
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Pogogyne floribunda is a special kind of flowering plant. People often call it the profuseflower mesamint or profuse-flowered pogogyne. It's part of the mint family, which means it's related to plants like peppermint and spearmint!
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What is Profuseflower Mesamint?
This plant is an annual herb, which means it grows, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a nice, strong smell, just like many plants in the mint family. The stem usually stands up straight and has many branches. You can see its flowers all along the stem, almost from the bottom to the very top!
Where Does it Grow?
The profuseflower mesamint naturally grows in the northeastern part of California. It's found in a special area called the Modoc Plateau and the flat lands around it. You can also find a few of these plants in nearby Oregon and Idaho.
This plant loves to grow in places where water collects for a while and then dries up. These spots include vernal pools, which are temporary ponds that appear in spring, and "ephemeral creeks," which are small streams that only flow after rain and then dry out. It also grows in other water spots on the plateau that become dry in the summer.
What Does it Look Like?
The flowers of the profuseflower mesamint are small, about half a centimeter long. They are shaped like tiny tubes and have two "lips," which is common for mint family flowers. Most of these delicate flowers are white. Many have pretty purple spots or tiny red speckles on them. Sometimes, you might even find a flower that is completely white or a light purple color.
Each little flower is surrounded by a cup-like structure called a calyx. This calyx is made of pointed parts called sepals. These sepals are covered in long, soft white hairs, making them look a bit fuzzy.
How Was it Classified?
For a long time, scientists thought this plant was just a type of another common plant called Pogogyne zizyphoroides. However, after more study, scientists decided in 1992 that Pogogyne floribunda was unique enough to be its own separate species. This means it has its own special characteristics that make it different from other plants.
