San Clemente Island triteleia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Clemente Island triteleia |
|
|---|---|
_(5647425123).jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Brodiaea clementina |
The Triteleia clementina, also known as the San Clemente Island triteleia, is a very rare and beautiful flowering plant. It is special because it grows naturally in only one place in the world: San Clemente Island. This island is part of the Channel Islands of California, located off the coast of California.
Scientists have found about twenty groups of these plants on the island. This flower is a "perennial herb," which means it's a plant that lives for many years, not just one season. It grows from a special underground stem called a corm, which is like a bulb.
Contents
San Clemente Island Triteleia: A Special Flower
What It Looks Like
The San Clemente Island triteleia has two or three long, thin leaves that can grow up to 100 centimeters (about 3 feet) long and 3 centimeters wide. These leaves are "keeled," meaning they have a ridge down the middle, like the bottom of a boat.
The plant sends up a tall, straight stem that can reach up to 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) high. At the top of this stem, many flowers grow together in a cluster that looks a bit like an umbrella. This type of flower cluster is called an umbel.
Each flower is shaped like a funnel and is usually lavender or light blue. They are about 1.5 centimeters (half an inch) long and have six petal-like parts, called lobes. Inside each flower, there are six stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens have bright purple tips called anthers.
Where It Lives
This unique plant loves to grow in moist, rocky areas right by the sea. You can find it in the grasslands along the coast of San Clemente Island. Because it only grows on this one island, it is called "endemic" to San Clemente Island. This means it's found nowhere else on Earth naturally!
Protecting This Rare Plant
Even though the San Clemente Island triteleia only lives on one island, it faced a big problem in the past. Wild animals like feral pigs and goats used to eat the plants. This eating of plants by animals is called "herbivory." These animals were a major threat to the plant's survival.
However, there's good news! The wild pigs and goats have been removed from San Clemente Island. This means the main danger to the San Clemente Island triteleia is gone, helping this rare and special flower to grow and thrive.
