Baker's stickyseed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blennosperma bakeri |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Asteroideae
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| Tribe: |
Senecioneae
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| Genus: |
Blennosperma
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| Species: |
B. bakeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Blennosperma bakeri Heiser
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Blennosperma bakeri is a special and rare flowering plant. It is also known as Baker's stickyseed or Sonoma sunshine. This plant belongs to the daisy family. It is a small plant that grows for only one year.
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Where It Lives
Blennosperma bakeri only grows in Sonoma County, California. This means it is endemic to that area. You can find it in a few wet, grassy places called vernal pools. These pools are found in areas like the Laguna de Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley.
This plant is listed as an endangered species by the government. This means it is in danger of disappearing forever. It often grows near other rare vernal pool plants. These include the Sebastopol meadowfoam (Limnanthes vinculans) and Burke's goldfields (Lasthenia burkei).
Why It's in Danger
Many things threaten Blennosperma bakeri. Its natural home is being changed for new buildings and roads. Farming and animals eating the plants also cause problems. Sometimes, people collect the plants, which hurts their numbers. Tiny insects called thrips also eat them. Lastly, invasive plants that are not native to the area can take over and push out Blennosperma bakeri.
What It Looks Like
This plant is a small annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and dies all in one year. It usually grows to be less than 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves are long and thin, about 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long. They have small rounded parts near their ends. The plant has a few flower heads. Each head looks like a small daisy.
The center of each flower head has many yellow disc florets. Some of these have white stigmas (the part that receives pollen) and white pollen. Around the edge of the head, there is a fringe of yellow ray florets. These are like the petals of a daisy. They have red stigmas.
Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small fruits called achenes. These are like tiny seeds, only a few millimeters long. They become sticky when they get wet.
Helping the Plant Survive
Scientists know of about fifteen places where this plant grows. However, six of these places might be damaged or gone. To help the plant, some new, artificial vernal pools have been made. But the United States Fish and Wildlife Service says these new pools are not as good as the natural ones. They are working to protect the natural vernal pools where Blennosperma bakeri can thrive.
