Amargosa niterwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amargosa niterwort |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nitrophila
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| Species: |
mohavensis
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Nitrophila mohavensis is a very rare flowering plant. It is also known as the Amargosa niterwort. This plant belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. You can only find it in Nye County, Nevada and Inyo County, California.
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Where Does the Amargosa Niterwort Live?
The Amargosa niterwort only grows in the Amargosa Desert. This desert is on the border between California and Nevada. It is also east of Death Valley and near Death Valley National Park.
Scientists know of three places where it grows in Nevada. There are fewer than five places in California.
This plant only lives in special places called alkaline salt pans. These are moist, salty clay soils. They are surrounded by other plants that love salt, like Atriplex confertifolia and Cleomella brevipes.
What Does the Amargosa Niterwort Look Like?
The Amargosa niterwort is a small plant. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb. This means it has underground stems called rhizomes. It also lives for more than two years.
It grows to be only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall. It has straight branches, often in pairs. These branches are covered with thick, oval-shaped green leaves. Each leaf is only 3 or 4 millimeters long.
What About Its Flowers?
The plant's flowers grow alone or in small groups. They appear between the leaves. The flowers do not have petals. Instead, they have pink, petal-like sepals. Sepals are usually green leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. These pink sepals turn white as the flower gets older.
Why is the Amargosa Niterwort Endangered?
The Amargosa niterwort is a federally listed endangered species. This means the United States government protects it. It is in danger of disappearing forever.
The plant only grows in a very small area. This makes it easy for a single event to harm or wipe out many plants.
What are the Main Dangers?
This plant lives in and around what is left of Carson Slough. This area is in Ash Meadows. Part of it is in the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a protected area. However, changes to the water flow still affect the plant.
The Amargosa niterwort needs its soil to be wet. It relies on a high water table, which is the level of water underground. The biggest threat to the plant is when people pump too much groundwater. This lowers the water table.
Other dangers include potassium and zeolite mining in the area. Sometimes, people also use off-road vehicles illegally. This can damage the plant's habitat.
