Chamaenerion latifolium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chamaenerion latifolium |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Chamaenerion
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| Species: |
latifolium
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Chamaenerion latifolium is a beautiful flowering plant. It is also known as dwarf fireweed or river beauty willowherb. This plant belongs to the evening primrose family. You can find it growing across the northern parts of the world. This includes cold places like the Arctic and subarctic regions. It often grows in areas where snow has melted, like on gravel bars or rocky slopes.
What It Looks Like
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows in groups of leaves from a woody base. The leaves can be different sizes and shapes. They are usually 1 to 10 centimeters long. They can be shaped like a spear or an oval. The leaves might be hairy or smooth and waxy.
The flowers grow in a cluster called a raceme. They often hang down. The petals are usually bright to deep pink. Sometimes, they can be white. Each petal can be up to 3 centimeters long. Behind the petals are pointed parts called sepals. After the flower blooms, it forms a long fruit. This fruit is a capsule that can be over 10 centimeters long.
An Important Plant for People
This plant is very important for the Inuit people who live in the Arctic. They use it as a valuable food source. They eat the leaves raw or boiled with fat. They also steep the leaves in water to make tea. The flowers and fruits can be eaten raw. Sometimes, they are added to salads. These salads are often eaten with meals of seal and walrus blubber.
The leaves and young shoots of the plant are edible. They taste a lot like spinach. In the Canadian tundra, this plant is also known as River Beauty.
National Flower of Greenland
Chamaenerion latifolium is the national flower of Greenland. In the Greenlandic language, its name is niviarsiaq. This means "young girl." It is a symbol of beauty and strength in Greenland.
