Woodland beardtongue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodland beardtongue |
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| Nothochelone nemorosa growing in Mount Rainier National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nothochelone
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| Species: |
nemorosa
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| Synonyms | |
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Penstemon nemorosus |
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Nothochelone nemorosa, often called the woodland beardtongue, is a special flowering plant. It's the only species in its group, called a genus, which is named Nothochelone. This plant belongs to the plantain family.
Even though it looks a lot like plants from the penstemon group, scientists decided to give Nothochelone nemorosa its own genus. This was because of small differences, like its seeds having tiny "wings" that help them fly away in the wind!
Where Does Woodland Beardtongue Grow?
The woodland beardtongue is found in western North America. You can see it growing from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to northern California in the United States. It loves to live in mountain forests, where it can find the right amount of shade and moisture.
What Does Woodland Beardtongue Look Like?
This plant is a perennial herb, which means it lives for many years and its stem is not woody like a tree. It grows a straight, hairy stem that can reach up to one meter (about 3 feet) tall!
- Leaves: Its leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are shaped like a spear or an oval, have pointed tips, and their edges are slightly toothed. Each leaf can be up to 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) long.
- Flowers: The flowers grow in a cluster called a panicle. They look similar to penstemon flowers, with a wide, tube-like shape and two "lips" that are lobed. Inside, there's a hairy part called a staminode. Each flower can be more than 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long and comes in shades of light to dark pink.
- Seeds: After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit called a capsule. This capsule holds the small, winged seeds that help the plant spread to new places.
See also
In Spanish: Nothochelone para niños
