Cusick's stickseed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cusick's stickseed |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hackelia
|
| Species: |
cusickii
|
The Hackelia cusickii, also known as Cusick's stickseed, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family, which includes many plants with hairy leaves and unique flowers.
Where It Grows
This special plant is found naturally in a region called the Modoc Plateau. This area is in the northeastern part of California and stretches into nearby parts of Nevada and Oregon.
Cusick's stickseed likes to grow in high places, usually between 1,300 and 1,950 meters (about 4,265 to 6,400 feet) above sea level. You can find it in different kinds of habitats:
- In coniferous forests that are a bit cooler, like those found in mountains.
- Among Northern Sierra juniper trees.
- On slopes made of loose rocks, often in very high, open areas called alpine fell-fields.
What It Looks Like
Cusick's stickseed is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem like a tree. It can grow up to about 50 centimeters (20 inches) tall. Its stems and leaves are covered with a thin layer of stiff hairs.
Most of its leaves grow in a cluster near the bottom of the plant. These can be up to 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. You might also see a few smaller leaves growing along the lower part of its stem.
Flowers and Fruit
The plant's flowers grow in a special arrangement called an inflorescence. This looks like an open group of branches, with each branch coiling like a spiral. Each flower is a little over a centimeter wide and has pretty blue petals. At the bottom of each petal, there are small white parts.
Cusick's stickseed usually blooms, or flowers, from May to July. After the flowers fade, they turn into fruits. These fruits are actually a cluster of small, prickly parts called nutlets.
