Cooley's meadow-rue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooley's meadow-rue |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thalictrum
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| Species: |
cooleyi
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Cooley's meadow-rue (Thalictrum cooleyi) is a special and rare flowering plant. It belongs to the buttercup family. You can find it naturally in the southeastern parts of the United States. This includes states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Sadly, its natural homes are being lost or damaged. Because of this, it is listed as an endangered species in the United States.
Contents
What is Cooley's Meadow-Rue?
Cooley's meadow-rue is a type of plant that lives for many years. It grows long, thin stems that can reach up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Sometimes, these stems stand straight up.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are made of several smaller, narrow leaflets. Some of these leaflets are even split into smaller parts called lobes. Leaves closer to the ground grow on small stalks called petioles.
The flowers grow in clusters. These clusters can be shaped like a raceme (flowers on short stalks along a main stem) or a panicle (a branched cluster of flowers).
This plant is special because it is dioecious. This means that male flowers and female flowers grow on completely separate plants. The flowers do not have petals. Instead, they have four or five leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals are white or yellowish on male flowers and greenish on female flowers. The plant usually blooms in June and July.
Where Does Cooley's Meadow-Rue Live?
This plant grows in a region called the Atlantic coastal plain. It likes open, wet places. You can find it in areas like savannas (grassy woodlands), bogs (wetlands with spongy soil), and swamp forests.
Ideal Growing Conditions
The soil where it grows is usually sandy and a bit muddy. It can be neutral or slightly acidic. The soil needs to be wet for at least part of the year. Cooley's meadow-rue likes spots that are moist or soaked with water, but without standing water.
It also needs plenty of sunshine to grow well.
Why is it Endangered?
Cooley's meadow-rue needs its habitat to stay open and clear. This helps it get enough sunlight. Naturally, this clearing happens during regular wildfires. These fires burn away larger plants that might block the sun.
Threats to its Survival
When fires are stopped (called fire suppression), big trees and bushes start to grow. This shades out the meadow-rue and other smaller plants. They can't get enough light and are outcompeted by the larger plants.
Another threat is when its habitat is cleared for growing trees for wood (called silviculture). The plant cannot survive in these changed areas. While the plant can handle some disturbance, it cannot survive harsh changes like bulldozing or strong herbicides (weed killers).
