Sierra tansymustard facts for kids

Descurainia californica is a type of flowering plant. It is often called the Sierra tansymustard. This plant belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which is also known as the mustard family.

You can find this plant growing naturally in western North America. Its home stretches from California all the way to Wyoming. It lives in many different places, from mountain forests to dry areas with sagebrush.

About the Sierra Tansymustard

The Sierra tansymustard is a tall, thin plant. It has a single main stem that can grow more than half a meter (about 20 inches) tall. This main stem then branches out.

What It Looks Like

The leaves of the Sierra tansymustard are not very dense. They are divided into two to four pairs of dull green sections. Each of these sections can be one to six centimeters (about 0.4 to 2.4 inches) long.

At the very tip of each stem, you will find tiny flowers. These flowers grow in bunches and are bright yellow.

How It Makes Seeds

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small fruits. These fruits are called siliques. A silique is a special type of pod, common in the mustard family.

Each silique grows on a straight stalk called a pedicel. These pedicels stick out from the main stem at different spots. Inside the siliques, the plant's seeds develop.

Where It Grows

The Sierra tansymustard is found across a wide area. It grows in the western parts of North America. This includes states like California, Nevada, and Wyoming.

It likes to live in various environments. You can find it in cool mountain forests. It also grows in drier areas known as sage scrub. This shows it can adapt to different conditions.

See also

In Spanish: Descurainia californica para niños