Yellow larkspur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow larkspur |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Delphinium
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| Species: |
luteum
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The Delphinium luteum, also known as the yellow larkspur, is a small plant with bright yellow, horn-shaped flowers. It belongs to the buttercup family. This special plant grows only in the rocky, foggy hills near the coast of Sonoma County, California. It is a critically endangered species, meaning it's very close to disappearing forever. As of 2005, scientists believed there were only about 200 of these plants left.
The yellow larkspur has always lived in a small area, mainly in coastal Sonoma and Marin counties, and it was never found in large numbers. Over time, human activities in these areas, like digging for rocks (quarrying), animals eating plants (grazing), farming, and building new homes and businesses, have greatly reduced the number of yellow larkspur plants. Because of this, it has been listed as an endangered species since the 1970s. Today, a few small groups of these plants still grow on private land near Bodega Bay, where people are working to protect them.
Contents
How Yellow Larkspur Grows and Survives
Pollination and Reproduction
Yellow larkspur flowers are pollinated by tiny hummingbirds and various insects. This means these animals help carry pollen from one flower to another, which allows the plant to make seeds and reproduce. Sometimes, the yellow larkspur can hybridize with two other types of Delphinium plants if it gets their pollen. When plants hybridize, they mix their genes, creating a new plant that has traits from both parents.
Protecting Genetic Identity
Even though yellow larkspur can hybridize, there are still many pure yellow larkspur plants that have not mixed their genes with other species. These pure plants have a lot of different genes within their own species, which is called high genetic diversity. This diversity is very important because it helps the plants adapt to changes in their environment and resist diseases. Recent efforts to save the yellow larkspur have focused on protecting its unique genetic makeup.
Related Species
Another flower that grows in the same region, called Baker's larkspur, is also critically endangered. Scientists often study both the yellow larkspur and Baker's larkspur together because they are closely related and face similar threats. Learning about both can help in their conservation.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the beautiful yellow larkspur flower.
See also
In Spanish: Delphinium luteum para niños
