Spinysepal eryngo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spinysepal eryngo |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eryngium
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| Species: |
spinosepalum
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Eryngium spinosepalum, also known as the spinysepal eryngo or spiny-sepaled button celery, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Apiaceae family, which includes plants like carrots and parsley! This plant is not very common, making it a unique find in its native home.
Contents
Where It Grows
Native Home in California
This interesting plant is found only in California. When a plant or animal lives only in one specific place, we say it is endemic to that area. The spinysepal eryngo grows naturally in the eastern part of the San Joaquin Valley. This valley is in the southern part of California's large Central Valley.
It also grows in the lower hills next to the Sierra Nevada mountains. These hills are called foothills.
Its Favorite Spots
Eryngium spinosepalum loves wet places. You can find it in areas like vernal pools. These are temporary ponds that fill with water in winter and spring, then dry up in summer. It also grows in moist grasslands and other wet areas called swales. These are low, wet spots in the land.
This plant can grow at different heights. It lives in elevations from about 330 feet (100 meters) up to 4,166 feet (1,270 meters) above sea level.
What It Looks Like
Plant Size and Stem
The spinysepal eryngo is a type of perennial herb. This means it is a plant without a woody stem that lives for more than two years. It grows straight up and can reach about 30 inches (75 centimeters) tall.
Its stem is thick and smooth, meaning it has no hairs. The stem also branches out, creating a fuller plant.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are shaped like wide spearheads or long ovals. They can grow up to 14 inches (35 centimeters) long. The edges of the leaves have sharp, pointed parts called lobes.
The flowers grow in round clusters called an inflorescence. Each flower cluster is like a ball, about 0.8 inches (2 centimeters) wide. Around these flower heads are several narrow, pointed leaves called bracts. These bracts might have spines along their edges.
The flowers themselves are white. They bloom during the spring months, usually in April and May.
