Variableleaf jewelflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Variableleaf jewelflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Streptanthus
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| Species: |
diversifolius
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The Streptanthus diversifolius is a type of flowering plant in the mustard family. It is often called the variableleaf jewelflower or varied-leaved jewelflower. This plant is special because it is endemic to California. This means it grows naturally only in California, specifically in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
What is the Variableleaf Jewelflower?
The variableleaf jewelflower is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It likes to live in woodlands and other areas found in the foothills.
How It Looks
This plant has a smooth, waxy stem that can grow up to one meter (about 3 feet) tall.
Leaves
The leaves at the bottom of the plant, called basal leaves, can look very different from each other. Sometimes they are divided into thin, thread-like parts. Leaves higher up on the stem also vary in shape. They can be round or shaped like a spear, and they often wrap around the stem where they attach.
Flowers
The flowers grow in groups along the upper part of the stem. Each group of flowers has one or two small, leaf-like parts called bracts at its base.
Each flower has a cup-shaped outer part called a calyx. This calyx is made of ridged parts called sepals, which are about half a centimeter long. The sepals can be white, yellowish, or purple, sometimes with white edges. From the top of the calyx, white petals with purple lines appear.
Fruits
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit called a silique. This silique is a long, thin, flat, and curved seed pod. It can grow to be about 8 or 9 centimeters (about 3 to 3.5 inches) long.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the Variableleaf Jewelflower.
