Purplebeak owl's-clover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purplebeak owl's-clover |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Triphysaria
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| Species: |
micrantha
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Triphysaria micrantha is a special kind of flowering plant. It's often called the purplebeak owl's-clover. This plant is quite unique because it only grows in one place: California! You can find it in the grassy areas of the Central Valley and the hills nearby.
What is Purplebeak Owl's-Clover?
The purplebeak owl's-clover is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a stem that can grow up to about 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) tall. The stem is often hairy and has small glands. It can also be purple in color!
How it Gets Food
This plant is a bit unusual because it's a facultative root parasite. This sounds complicated, but it just means it can get some of its food from other plants. It does this by attaching to their roots using special parts called haustoria. Think of haustoria like tiny straws that help the owl's-clover sip nutrients from its neighbors. It doesn't always need to do this, but it can if it wants to!
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the purplebeak owl's-clover are usually green. They can sometimes be a reddish-purple color too. Each leaf can be up to 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Some leaves are divided into a few narrow, pointed parts.
The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a spike and is a few centimeters long. Each flower has two main parts, like lips. The top lip is narrow and purple. The bottom lip is wider and divided into small pouches. These pouches are usually yellowish or white. You might also see purple marks on the lower parts of the flowers.
