Filiform rockjasmine facts for kids

Androsace filiformis is a small, pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the primrose family, which includes many beautiful flowers. People often call it the filiform rockjasmine or slender-stemmed androsace.

This plant is not very common. You can find it growing naturally in parts of the Northwestern United States, like California, Colorado, and Utah. It also grows far away in Eurasia, which is a big landmass including Europe and Asia.

It likes to live in mountain meadows, especially in places like the Cascade Range and Rocky Mountains.

What Does Androsace filiformis Look Like?

Androsace filiformis is a tiny plant that grows for only one year. It's called an "annual herb" because it completes its whole life cycle, from seed to flower to new seeds, in a single growing season. It often forms small clumps or patches that can be a bit hairy or smooth. These patches usually grow up to about 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) tall.

Leaves and Stems

At the bottom of the plant, close to the ground, you'll find a group of leaves arranged in a circle. This is called a "basal rosette." These leaves are usually small, up to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long, but often much smaller. They have tiny, saw-like edges, which means they are "finely toothed." The shape of these leaves can be oval or almost like a triangle.

Flowers

The plant usually has several flower clusters. These clusters are called "umbels." An umbel is like a tiny umbrella, where many flower stalks (called "pedicels") come out from a single point. Each umbel holds many tiny white flowers. Each flower has five small, rounded parts that look like petals, called "lobes." These little flowers sit on long, thin pedicels, which are like their individual stems, making the umbel look open and airy.