Stats

Lifespan: 50-100 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Photosynthetic
Biome: Mediterranean shrubland
Range: North America
Movement: Sessile
Breeding: Seeds
Defense: Toxins
Status: Common

About

Lemonade berry is a drought-tolerant shrub native to coastal Southern California and Baja California, covered in sticky red berries that were historically mixed with water to make a tart, lemonade-like drink. Its leathery evergreen leaves and dense form make it a cornerstone of California chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats.

Life cycle

1.
seed
A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2.
sprout
A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3.
sapling
A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4.
mature
Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Rhus
Species: Rhus integrifolia