Rosalillo de cumbre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rosalillo de cumbre |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterocephalus
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| Species: |
lasiospermus
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The Pterocephalus lasiospermus, also known as the rosalillo de cumbre, is a special type of shrub. It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, which includes plants like honeysuckle. This unique plant is found only in one specific place in the world.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name, lasiospermus, comes from two Greek words. "Lasios" means "hairy," and "sperma" means "seed." This name describes the plant's seeds, which have a fluffy, hairy top called a pappus. In Spanish, its common name is "rosalillo de cumbre." This means "summit rosebush" in English. It's a good name because it grows high up on mountains.
Where Does It Live?
This plant is found only on the island of Tenerife, which is part of the Canary Islands. It grows in a special area called the Cañadas del Teide depression. You can also find it in the scrubland around the pine forests in the higher parts of the island. For a long time, this plant was very rare. This was because animals like livestock used to graze in its habitat. Their eating habits damaged the plants. Luckily, after the Teide National Park was created, the plant was protected. This helped it to grow back and become more common.
What Does It Look Like?
The rosalillo de cumbre is a shrub that can grow up to one meter (about 3 feet) tall. Its stems are a grey color. The leaves are a pale green-grey and feel a bit hairy. The flowers grow in a cushion-like shape at the end of long stems. These flowers are a pretty pale pink color. This plant blooms in early summer. This is later than many other plants in its area. As summer goes on, the flower head changes. It turns into a ball of whitish, papery seeds. These seeds are light and can be carried by the wind.
