Birdfoot checkerbloom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Birdfoot checkerbloom |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Sidalcea |
| Species: |
S. pedata
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| Binomial name | |
| Sidalcea pedata |
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The birdfoot checkerbloom (scientific name: Sidalcea pedata) is a very special and rare plant. It is also known as the Big Bear checkerbloom. This plant is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and does not have a woody stem like a tree.
It is considered a rare and endangered plant in California. This means there are not many of them left, and they are at risk of disappearing forever. The birdfoot checkerbloom blooms beautiful flowers between May and July.
This plant is endemic to California. This means it naturally grows only in California and nowhere else in the world. You can find it in just a few places in the San Bernardino Mountains. These places include Bear Valley and Bluff Lake. It likes to grow in moist meadows, open woodlands, and a special type of land called pebble plain. These areas are usually found at high elevations, between 1,500 and 2,100 meters (about 4,900 to 6,900 feet) above sea level.
Because Big Bear Valley is a popular place for tourists, the birdfoot checkerbloom faces many threats. These threats include new buildings and roads, vehicles driving off-road, and animals eating the plants (grazing).
What Does It Look Like?
The birdfoot checkerbloom grows from a thick root called a taproot. It can grow up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. It has a few upright stems that are a bit star-shaped at the bottom.
The leaves of the plant grow near the base. They are divided into 5 to 7 parts, looking a bit like a bird's foot. This is why it's called "birdfoot checkerbloom."
The flowers are about 1.3 centimeters (half an inch) long. They are a lovely deep rose-pink color with darker lines, almost like veins. The flowers grow in a spike-like cluster, with the top flowers growing very close together.
Why Is It Important?
The birdfoot checkerbloom is a very important plant because it is so rare. Both the state of California and the U.S. Federal Government have recognized how special and endangered it is.
- On January 1982, the state of California officially listed the birdfoot checkerbloom as an endangered species.
- On August 31, 1984, the U.S. Federal Government also listed it as endangered.
This means there are laws and efforts in place to protect this unique plant and its habitat. Protecting the birdfoot checkerbloom helps keep the natural balance of the San Bernardino Mountains.
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
