Red shrubby-spurge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red shrubby-spurge |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tetracoccus (plant)
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| Species: |
dioicus
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The Tetracoccus dioicus, also known as the red shrubby-spurge or Parry's tetracoccus, is a cool flowering plant.
Where It Lives
This special shrub grows naturally in sunny California in the southwestern USA and in Baja California in Mexico.
In Southern California, you can find it in places like Orange County, Riverside County, and San Diego County.
It likes to live in dry, bushy areas called coastal sage scrub and chaparral. These are special kinds of habitats (natural homes) found below about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) in the South Coast area and the Peninsular Ranges.
What It Looks Like
Size and Branches
The red shrubby-spurge is a straight-growing shrub that can reach about 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall. Its older branches have gray bark, but the younger branches are a bright, eye-catching red!
Leaves
Its leaves are stiff and feel a bit like leather. They are a yellowish-green color. You'll often see them growing in pairs (opposite each other) or in groups of three. Sometimes, they even roll up lengthwise.
Flowers and Fruits
This shrub has interesting red and yellow flowers. Some flowers have stamens (the male parts), and others have pistils (the female parts). It blooms in April and May.
After the flowers, the plant grows unique fruits. These fruits have four distinct lobes (sections) and turn a bright red color when they are ripe.
