Daggerpod facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daggerpod
Conservation status
Apparently Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Anelsonia J.F.Macbr. & Payson
Species:	A. eurycarpa
Binomial name
Anelsonia eurycarpa (Gray) J.F.Macbr. & Payson
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Synonyms
Phoenicaulis eurycarpa

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The daggerpod (scientific name: Anelsonia eurycarpa) is a special plant. It's the only species in its group, called a monotypic genus, within the Brassicaceae family. This family is also known as the mustard family.

The daggerpod plant is a bit like another plant called Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides. However, scientists currently place them in different groups.

What is the Daggerpod Plant?

The daggerpod is a plant that feels a bit fleshy and is covered in fine hairs. It grows in high mountain areas across the western United States.

What Does it Look Like?

At the bottom of the plant, you'll find a group of soft, finger-shaped leaves. These leaves form a circle, like a rosette. Above these leaves, the plant grows many small white flowers. These flowers are packed closely together in clusters.

Its Unique Fruits

One of the most interesting parts of the daggerpod is its fruit. These fruits grow quite large and can make the rest of the plant look small. They are shaped like sails and each one sits on a small stalk, called a pedicel.

Each fruit is about 2 to 3 centimeters tall. They are oval-shaped and feel like paper or leather. Inside, they have stiff walls, called septa. The fruits are usually white, but they can also have purple spots or be brown. Hidden inside the folds of the fruit are several seeds.

Who Was Aven Nelson?

The scientific name Anelsonia was given to this plant in honor of a famous botanist named Aven Nelson. Botanists are scientists who study plants.