Chatham Island ice plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chatham Island ice plant |
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| On Chatham Island | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Disphyma
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| Species: |
papillatum
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The Chatham Island ice plant, also known by its scientific name Disphyma papillatum, is a special type of flowering plant. It's a succulent, which means it has thick, fleshy parts that store water, much like a cactus! This plant grows low to the ground and is found only on the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. It's known for its unique pimply stems and pretty daisy-like flowers.
What Does the Chatham Island Ice Plant Look Like?
The Chatham Island ice plant is a succulent plant that grows flat along the ground. Its stems are covered in small bumps, like pimples, and can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long. These stems often root into the ground as they spread.
Its leaves grow in pairs and are shaped like triangles when you look at them from the side. They are usually about 10 to 15 millimeters (about half an inch) long.
The flowers look a lot like daisies and can be 20 to 40 millimeters (about 1 to 1.5 inches) wide. They grow on bumpy stalks. The petals can be white, pink, dark blue, or purple, and they grow in several rows. Inside the flower, there are many yellow parts called anthers.
This plant usually flowers from November to January. After flowering, it produces a small, round fruit called a capsule.
The Chatham Island ice plant is similar to another plant called Disphyma crassifolium. However, you can tell them apart because the Chatham Island ice plant has bumpy, flattened stems, while the other plant has smooth, round stems.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Chatham Island ice plant was first officially described in 1971. A scientist named Robert Chinnock gave it its scientific name, Disphyma papillatum. This description was published in a science journal called the New Zealand Journal of Botany.
Where Does It Live?
This plant is endemic to the Chatham Islands. This means it naturally grows only in this specific group of islands and nowhere else in the world! You can find it on the main Chatham Island, as well as on other smaller islands like Rangiuaria, Rangatira, Mangere Island, Little Mangere Island, Moturoa, and Castle Island.
