Santa Susana tarplant facts for kids
Deinandra minthornii is a special flowering plant. It is also known as the Santa Susana tarplant or Santa Susana tarweed. This plant is very rare. It is an endangered species, which means it needs protection to survive.
Quick facts for kids Santa Susana tarplant |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
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| Subfamily: |
Asteroideae
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| Species: |
D. minthornii
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| Binomial name | |
| Deinandra minthornii (Jeps.) B.G.Baldwin
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| Synonyms | |
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Hemizonia minthornii Jeps. |
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Where Does the Santa Susana Tarplant Live?
The Santa Susana tarplant grows only in a small part of Southern California. It is found in the Santa Susana Mountains. You can also find it in the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. These areas are in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
This plant likes to grow in certain places. It lives in coastal sage scrub and chaparral areas. These are types of habitats with specific plants and weather. You can often spot it on rocky spots. It also grows in cracks in sandstone rocks. It lives at heights between 300 and 500 meters (about 980 to 1,640 feet). There are only about 20 known groups of these plants. Sadly, some of these groups have not been seen in a while.
What Does the Santa Susana Tarplant Look Like?
The Santa Susana tarplant is a small shrub. It can grow from 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) to 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. Its stems are covered in tiny hairs. They also have special glands that might feel sticky. The stems are full of leaves.
The leaves are thick and long and thin. Their edges are usually smooth. Sometimes they have a few small teeth. Like the stems, the leaves also have glands. They can be hairy or even bristly.
The plant's flower heads are small and pretty. They are lined with special leaves called phyllaries. These phyllaries are covered in glands. Each flower head has a few yellow ray florets. These look like petals. It also has several yellow disc florets in the center.
Why Is the Santa Susana Tarplant Rare?
The Santa Susana tarplant is a very rare plant. It is listed as an endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. The California Department of Fish and Game calls it a "Threatened species." This shows how important it is to protect it.
The California Endangered Species Act also lists it as "Imperiled." This means it is in danger. The California Native Plant Society keeps a list of rare plants. The Santa Susana tarplant is on their "Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California." All these lists show that this plant needs our help to survive. Protecting its habitat is very important.
