Pygmy pussypaws facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy pussypaws |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calyptridium
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| Species: |
pygmaeum
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| Synonyms | |
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The Pygmy Pussypaws (scientific name: Calyptridium pygmaeum) is a small plant that grows only in California, USA. It is also known by its other scientific name, Cistanthe pygmaea. This special plant is found in the high mountains of California, in places like Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Tulare, and Fresno Counties. It likes to live in pine forests and very high mountain areas, usually between 1,900 and 3,550 meters (about 6,200 to 11,600 feet) above sea level.
What is Pygmy Pussypaws?
The Pygmy Pussypaws is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle, from seed to flower to seed, within one year. It then dies, and new plants grow from its seeds the next year.
Plant Features
This tiny plant has stems that spread out along the ground. Each stem can grow up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Its leaves are also quite small, reaching about 15 millimeters (about 0.6 inches) in length.
The flowers of the Pygmy Pussypaws grow in tight bunches at the ends of its branches. Each flower has four small, white petals, which are only about 3 millimeters (about 0.12 inches) long. These petals stay attached to the fruit as it develops. The flowers also have sepals, which are like small, leaf-like parts that protect the bud. For this plant, the sepals are shaped like eggs and feel a bit thick or fleshy.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers bloom, they produce a small, egg-shaped fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) wide. Inside the capsule are the seeds. The seeds of the Pygmy Pussypaws are black, round, and have a shiny surface.
