Bristly jewelflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bristly jewelflower |
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| Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. secundus | |
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Streptanthus
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| Species: |
glandulosus
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Streptanthus glandulosus is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the mustard family. People often call it the bristly jewelflower because of its tiny hairs. This plant is found in California and southwestern Oregon. It grows in many different places, like grasslands, chaparral areas, and woodlands.
Contents
What is the Bristly Jewelflower?
The bristly jewelflower is not just one single plant. It's actually a group of ten very similar plants. Scientists call this a "species complex". Think of it like a big family with many different cousins. These cousins look a bit different because they grew up in separate areas.
A Family of Subspecies
Over time, different groups of this plant became isolated. This led to them evolving into slightly different types. These types are called subspecies. One example is the rare Tiburon jewelflower. This special subspecies only grows in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What Does the Bristly Jewelflower Look Like?
Bristly jewelflowers are usually annual herbs. This means they grow from a seed, flower, produce new seeds, and then die, all within one year.
Size and Texture
These plants can be quite small, about 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall. But some can grow much taller, over a meter (about 3 feet) high! Their stems and leaves can be smooth, a little hairy, or very bristly. This is where the "bristly" part of their name comes from.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are temporary. They have flat blades on a stalk called a petiole. Higher up on the stem, the leaves are long and narrow. They wrap around the stem at their base.
The flowers grow along the upper part of the stem. Each flower has a cup-shaped part called a calyx. This calyx is made of sepals. It can be white, yellow, pink, purple, or even almost black. Inside the calyx, you'll see petals. These petals can be purple, white, or white with purple veins.
Fruits of the Plant
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a long, thin pod called a silique. It can be straight or slightly curved. These pods can grow up to 11 centimeters (about 4.3 inches) long. Inside the silique are the seeds for the next generation of bristly jewelflowers.
