Florida clover ash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Florida clover ash |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tetrazygia
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| Species: |
bicolor
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Tetrazygia bicolor, also known as the Florida clover ash or West Indian lilac, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the Melastomataceae family, often called the glory bush family. This plant is native to warm, sunny places like southern Florida in the United States and the Caribbean islands.
About the Florida Clover Ash
This plant is a type of shrub, which is like a large bush. It can grow quite tall, reaching heights of about 3 to 9 meters (10 to 30 feet). Imagine a small tree! It often has several main stems instead of just one. These stems can be green or have a reddish color.
What it Looks Like
The Florida clover ash has evergreen leaves, meaning they stay green all year round. These leaves are shaped like a spear and are fairly long, usually about 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) in length. A cool thing about its leaves is that they have three clear lines, or veins, running from top to bottom.
When spring and summer arrive, the plant bursts into bloom. Its flowers are usually white, but sometimes they can have a pretty pinkish tint. After the flowers, the plant produces small, oval-shaped fruits that are brown. These fruits are a tasty treat for many birds!
Where it Grows
You can find Tetrazygia bicolor growing naturally in the subtropical wetlands of the Everglades in Florida. It likes places where it can get some shade, but not full sun all day. This plant is quite adaptable when it comes to soil. It can grow in acidic or alkaline soils, and it's happy in sand, loam (a mix of sand, silt, and clay), or clay soils.
Even though it likes wetlands, it can handle dry periods quite well. It also grows best in soils that drain water away nicely, so its roots don't sit in too much water.
