San Francisco spineflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Francisco spineflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chorizanthe
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| Species: |
cuspidata
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The San Francisco spineflower (Chorizanthe cuspidata) is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the buckwheat family. This plant grows only in California. You can find it mostly around the San Francisco Bay Area. It also grows a bit north and south of the Bay Area. It likes to live in sandy places near the coast.
What is the San Francisco Spineflower?
The Chorizanthe cuspidata plant grows flat on the ground. Its stems can reach about half a meter long. The leaves are usually at the bottom of the stem. They are shaped like ovals and can be up to 5 centimeters long. The plant feels hairy or woolly. It can be green or reddish in color.
Flowers and Spines
The flowers grow in a tight bunch. They are shaped like cylinders. Each flower has white or pink leaf-like parts called bracts around it. These bracts have hooked or straight spines at their tips. The flower itself is very tiny, only 2 or 3 millimeters long. It can be white or pink and is also hairy. The small flower parts, called tepals, have lobes. The middle lobe is the longest and comes to a point.
Types of San Francisco Spineflower
There are two main types, or varieties, of this plant:
- Chorizanthe cuspidata var. cuspidata is quite rare. Its home in the Bay Area has mostly been used for buildings and roads. This means there is less space for it to grow.
- Chorizanthe cuspidata var. villosa can be found in a safe place. This place is called Point Reyes National Seashore. It is a protected area where plants and animals can thrive.
