Sierra cryptantha facts for kids

Cryptantha nubigena is a type of plant that lives for more than two years, meaning it's a perennial plant. It belongs to the Borage Family, also known as Boraginaceae. People often call this plant the Sierra cryptantha.

Where the Sierra Cryptantha Lives

The Sierra cryptantha grows in the central and southern parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the United States. You can find it in very high places, sometimes as high as 12,900 feet (about 3,930 meters). This is like being on top of a really tall mountain! It likes the alpine zone, which is a cold, windy area above the tree line where only tough plants can survive.

How the Sierra Cryptantha Grows

This plant has short stems with lots of leaves. Its stems are not as packed with leaves as another similar plant called the Low Cryptantha (Cryptantha humilis).

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of the Sierra cryptantha are covered in tiny hairs, making them feel a bit fuzzy. They are shaped like small spoons.

Flowers and Seeds

The flowers of the Sierra cryptantha are white and quite small, less than 1/5 of an inch (about 0.5 centimeters) across. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small fruits called nutlets. These nutlets are oval-shaped and have a slightly wrinkled surface, but they are smoother than the nutlets of the Low Cryptantha (C. humilis). These nutlets contain the seeds that will grow into new plants.