Bear Valley sandwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bear Valley sandwort |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| With a bee fly | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Arenaria (plant)
|
| Species: |
ursina
|
Arenaria ursina, also known as the Bear Valley sandwort, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes many types of pinks and carnations.
Where Does the Bear Valley Sandwort Live?
This plant is very special because it is found only in one small area. It is endemic (meaning it lives only there naturally) to San Bernardino County, California. You can find it near Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains.
The Bear Valley sandwort grows in a unique place called a quartzite pebble plain. These are open areas in the forest with lots of small, smooth rocks. This habitat is very rare and only found in this part of California. The plant lives near towns like Fawnskin, Sugarloaf, and Baldwin Lake. Because it is so rare and important, the U.S. government lists it as a threatened species. This means it is protected by law because it is in danger of disappearing.
What Does It Look Like?
The Bear Valley sandwort is a small plant. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and does not have a woody stem. It grows in small clumps, usually no taller than 18 centimeters (about 7 inches).
Its leaves are tiny and waxy, shaped like needles, and can be up to one centimeter long. The plant produces small, white flowers. These flowers grow in an open cluster called a cyme. Each flower has five petals, less than half a centimeter long. You can also see purple stamens (the parts that hold pollen) sticking out from the center of the flower. After the flower blooms, it forms a small, toothed capsule (a type of fruit). This capsule holds one or two tiny purple seeds.
Why Is It in Danger?
The biggest problem for the Bear Valley sandwort is off-roading. This is when vehicles like SUVs drive off paved roads, often crushing plants and their habitat.
Other things that threaten this plant include:
- Building new homes and businesses, which destroys its natural home.
- Mining activities in the area.
- Work done to stop wildfires, which can also disturb the ground where the plant grows.
