Triteleia montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Triteleia montana |
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Triteleia montana is a type of flowering plant in the Triteleia family. It is also known as Sierra triteleia or mountain triteleia. This plant grows only in California, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains. You can find it in forests with cone-bearing trees where the soil is made of granite rock.
The second part of its scientific name, montana, is a Latin word. It means "from the mountains" or "related to mountains." This name fits well because the plant loves to grow in mountain areas.
What is Sierra Triteleia?
The Sierra triteleia is a beautiful wildflower that comes back to life every year. It grows from a special underground stem called a corm, which is a bit like a bulb.
How Does it Look?
This plant has two or three long, thin leaves that grow from its base. These leaves can be up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. A straight, slightly hairy stem grows up to 25 or 30 centimeters (about 10-12 inches) tall.
At the top of the stem, you'll find a cluster of several flowers. This cluster looks a bit like an umbrella. Each flower sits on a small stalk, called a pedicel, which can be up to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.
The flowers are yellow with a darker line down the middle of each petal. As they get older, they might turn a bit purplish. The flower is shaped like a funnel and has six petal-like parts, called tepals, each about a centimeter long. Inside the flower, there are six stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. The tops of these stamens, called anthers, can be white or blue.
