Sierra bolandra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra bolandra |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bolandra
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| Species: |
californica
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Bolandra californica is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the saxifrage family, which is a group of plants often found in rocky places. You might hear people call it the Sierra bolandra or the Sierra false coolwort. It's one of only two types of plants in its small group, called Bolandra.
This plant is unique because it only grows in one specific place: the High Sierra Nevada mountains in California. When a plant or animal only lives in one area, we say it is endemic there. The Sierra bolandra isn't super common, and you can find it growing on the forest floor under tall trees in coniferous forests.
Contents
Discovering the Sierra Bolandra
The Sierra bolandra was first officially described by a famous botanist named A. Gray. He was a very important plant scientist in the 1800s. Learning about new plants helps us understand more about the natural world around us and how different living things fit into their environments.
What the Sierra Bolandra Looks Like
The Sierra bolandra is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years, and its soft stems die back in winter but grow again from the same roots each spring.
Plant Structure
It grows from a thick, woody base called a caudex, which helps it store energy. From this base, it sends up a few leaves that can be up to ten centimeters long. These leaves have cool, sharp lobes, almost like little points or fingers.
Flowers and Stems
The plant also grows a tall flower stalk, which is called an inflorescence. This stalk can reach up to 60 centimeters (that's about two feet!) high. At the very top of this tall stalk, you'll find many small flowers grouped together in a shape called a panicle. A panicle looks a bit like a pyramid or a Christmas tree, with smaller branches holding the flowers.
Each flower is shaped like a little cup. It has five parts that curl back at the opening. From the cup's opening, five thin, pointy petals stick out. These petals are long and green, but they have pretty purple edges, making them quite striking up close!
