Malheur Valley fiddleneck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malheur Valley fiddleneck |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amsinckia
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| Species: |
carinata
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The Malheur Valley fiddleneck (Amsinckia carinata) is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family. This plant is found only in Oregon, specifically in Malheur County. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific place, we say it is endemic to that area.
This plant was once thought to be completely gone from the world. But in 1984, scientists were excited to find it again! It's a rare plant that needs our help to survive.
Contents
About the Malheur Valley Fiddleneck
What Does It Look Like?
The Malheur Valley fiddleneck is an annual plant. This means it lives for only one growing season. It is a herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like trees.
This plant usually grows to be about 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) tall. That's about the height of a ruler! Its stems and leaves are covered in stiff, bristly hairs.
The leaves are shaped like a spear or a narrow oval. They can grow up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. These leaves also have hairs, and at the base of each hair, there's a small bump that looks like a tiny blister.
The flowers grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster is coiled, like a fiddle's scroll, which is why it's called a "fiddleneck." The flowers are dark yellow to orange and are about one centimeter long. After the flowers bloom, they produce a shiny, dark gray fruit called a nutlet.
Where Does It Live?
The Malheur Valley fiddleneck lives in the Malheur River Valley. This area is in eastern Oregon. It prefers to grow on slopes made of loose rocks and gravel. These rocky slopes are called talus or scree.
This plant often grows near another, more common plant called Amsinckia tessellata. However, the Malheur Valley fiddleneck prefers more untouched, higher-elevation areas. The other plant, Amsinckia tessellata, grows in lower places and areas that are not as wild.
Today, there are only six known groups of Malheur Valley fiddleneck plants. These groups live in a very small area, less than 12 square miles (about 30.7 square kilometers). This small habitat makes the plant very special and vulnerable.
Why Is It Special?
For many years, people thought the Malheur Valley fiddleneck was extinct. This means they believed it had completely disappeared from Earth. But in 1984, it was rediscovered! This was a big moment for plant scientists.
For a while in the 1990s, some scientists thought this plant might be the same as another plant, A. vernicosa. That other plant is not as rare. If they were the same, the Malheur Valley fiddleneck might not have gotten the special attention it needed as a very rare plant.
However, most scientists now agree that Amsinckia carinata is its own unique species. This is important because it means the plant is still considered very rare. It grows only on land owned by the United States government.
What Threats Does It Face?
Because the Malheur Valley fiddleneck is so rare and lives in such a small area, it faces several threats. These threats can make it harder for the plant to survive and grow.
One threat comes from mining activities in the area. Mining can disturb the land where the plants grow. This can destroy their habitat.
Another big problem is the spread of introduced species of plants. These are plants that are not native to the area. An example is Bromus tectorum, also known as cheatgrass. These new plants can take over the land. They compete with the Malheur Valley fiddleneck for space, water, and nutrients.
Cattle grazing in the area also makes the problem worse. When cattle eat plants, they can help spread these non-native grasses. This makes it even harder for the native Malheur Valley fiddleneck to thrive. Protecting this special plant means protecting its unique home.
