Curled starwort facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Curled starwort
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Caryophyllaceae
Genus:	Stellaria
Species:	S. crispa
Binomial name
Stellaria crispa Cham. & Schltdl.
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Synonyms
Alsine crispa

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The Stellaria crispa, also known as curled starwort or crisp starwort, is a small flowering plant. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which also includes carnations. This plant is native to western North America.

What is the Curled Starwort?

The curled starwort is a type of plant that lives for many years. It is known as a rhizomatous perennial herb. This means it has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread. It forms a mat of stems that can trail along the ground.

Where Does the Curled Starwort Live?

This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from Alaska all the way south to California and Wyoming. It likes to grow in places that are moist and shady. This includes deep forests and along the banks of streams.

What Does the Curled Starwort Look Like?

The curled starwort produces stems that can grow up to about 40 centimeters long. These stems often lie flat on the ground or trail along it.

Leaves of the Curled Starwort

The stems are lined with pairs of leaves. These leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. Each leaf is shaped like a pointed oval. They are usually small, about 1 to 2 centimeters long.

Flowers of the Curled Starwort

The flowers of the curled starwort grow one by one. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a short stalk called a pedicel. The flower has five pointed green parts called sepals. Each sepal is only a few millimeters long. Some flowers might have one or more petals, but many curled starwort flowers do not have any petals at all.