Colorado buckwheat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colorado buckwheat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eriogonum
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| Species: |
coloradense
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Colorado buckwheat (Eriogonum coloradense) is a small flowering plant. It belongs to the buckwheat family. This plant grows only in Colorado, United States. That means it is endemic to Colorado, found nowhere else in the world!
Contents
What Does Colorado Buckwheat Look Like?
This plant is quite small. It grows in a flat, mat-like shape, only a few centimeters (about an inch or two) tall. Its leaves grow around the bottom of the plant. They can be up to 4 or 5 centimeters long. The top of the leaves is mostly green. The underside is fuzzy, like wool.
Flowers and Stems
The flowers grow on stems that can reach about 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) tall. These stems hold a cluster of tiny flowers. The flowers are usually white, but some can be light pink. Scientists think this plant is very similar to another species called Eriogonum lonchophyllum. Some experts, like James Reveal, even wonder if it's just a different type of that plant.
Where Does Colorado Buckwheat Live?
Most of these special Colorado plants live near the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness. This is a beautiful mountain area in Colorado. The plant can grow in many different kinds of places. It doesn't mind if the ground is flat or sloped. It also grows in various types of soil. You can find it at different heights (elevations) in the mountains. It lives among several kinds of plant groups. Because it can live in so many different environments, it's a bit of a mystery why it isn't more common!
What Threats Does It Face?
The biggest danger to Colorado buckwheat is people enjoying the mountains. It grows in popular spots near Crested Butte. Activities like hiking, biking, or other outdoor fun can sometimes harm the plants in their natural home.
