Siskiyou lewisia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siskiyou lewisia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lewisia
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| Species: |
cotyledon
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Lewisia cotyledon is a beautiful species of flowering plant. It belongs to the family called Montiaceae. People often call it Siskiyou lewisia or cliff maids. This plant grows naturally in southern Oregon and northern California. You can find it in rocky mountain areas that are high up, known as the subalpine zone.
What is Lewisia Cotyledon?
This plant is an evergreen perennial. This means it stays green all year round and lives for more than two years. It grows from a thick main root, called a taproot. It also has a special stem base, called a caudex.
Leaves and Their Shape
Lewisia cotyledon has many thick, fleshy leaves. These leaves grow in a circle close to the ground. This circle is called a basal rosette. The leaves are shaped like an oval or a spoon. They can grow up to 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches) long.
The second part of the plant's scientific name, cotyledon, means "small cup." This name describes the cup-like shape of its leaves.
How it Flowers
This plant blooms from spring through summer. Its flowers grow on one or more stems. These stems can be 10 to 30 centimeters (about 4 to 12 inches) tall. Each stem can hold up to 50 flowers.
Near the flowers, you will find small, pointed leaves called bracts. These bracts have tiny sticky resin glands on their tips. Each flower has 7 to 13 petals. Each petal is about 1.5 centimeters (about half an inch) long. The petals can be different colors. They might be pale pink with darker lines. Some are whitish with pink or orange stripes. Others are solid orange or yellow.
Awards and Recognition
The Lewisia cotyledon plant is very special. It has won an important prize called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award is given to plants that are excellent for growing in gardens. The "Sunset group" of its special types, called cultivars, also received this award.
