Cassiope tetragona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cassiope tetragona |
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Cassiope tetragona (say "KASS-ee-oh-pee tet-ra-GO-na") is a small, tough plant. It is also known as Arctic bell-heather or white Arctic mountain heather. This plant lives in very cold places like the Arctic and northern Norway. You can find it growing widely in these chilly regions.
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What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a type of dwarf shrub, which means it's a small, woody plant. It usually grows to be about 10 to 20 centimeters tall. That's roughly the height of a pencil! It has many branches, making it look bushy.
Leaves and Flowers
- The leaves of Cassiope tetragona are special. They are grooved and stay green all year round.
- They are also scale-like and grow in four neat rows.
- The plant has pretty, bell-shaped flowers that grow by themselves.
- These flowers usually have white and pink parts, with pink anthers (the part that holds pollen).
- Sometimes, the petals can be yellowish-white.
- The flower stalks and the small leaves under the flower (called sepals) are often red.
- But they can also be yellowish-green, and the anthers can be brownish-yellow.
Where Does It Grow?
Cassiope tetragona likes to grow on ridges and open, grassy areas called heaths. It often grows in large groups, creating a unique and beautiful plant community. It thrives in the harsh conditions of the Arctic.
How Do People Use It?
This amazing plant has a few important uses for people living in the Arctic.
Fuel
- In Greenland, the native people use Cassiope tetragona as an important source of fuel.
- It has a lot of resin inside, which is a sticky substance.
- This high resin content means the plant can burn even when it's wet! This is very helpful in a cold, damp environment.
Cooking
- The plant can also be used in cooking.
- A Canadian chef named Louis Charest used Arctic heather as a smoked herb.
- He used it for a special dinner in 2016 called the "Three Amigos Summit."
