Dwarf skullcap facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf skullcap |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scutellaria
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| Species: |
nana
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| Synonyms | |
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Scutellaria holmgreniorum |
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The dwarf skullcap, or Scutellaria nana, is a small flowering plant. It is also known as the dwarf scullcap. This plant is part of the mint family. It is special because of its unique look and where it grows.
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Discovering Dwarf Skullcap
The dwarf skullcap is a plant that grows naturally in the western United States. You can find it mostly in and around the Great Basin. This area includes parts of states like California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon.
Where Dwarf Skullcap Lives
This plant likes to grow in dry, open areas. These places are often called "plateau scrub." It especially likes to grow in volcanic soil. This type of soil is formed from old volcanoes.
What Dwarf Skullcap Looks Like
The dwarf skullcap is a small plant. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows new stems each year from a special underground stem called a rhizome. Its stems can grow up to about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall.
The plant is covered in tiny, flat hairs. Sometimes these hairs have sticky resin glands. Its leaves are shaped like an oval or a diamond. The lower leaves grow on short stems called petioles.
Dwarf Skullcap Flowers
The flowers of the dwarf skullcap grow where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has a cup-like structure called a calyx. This calyx has a noticeable ridge on its top part.
The flower itself is shaped like a tube. It can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) long. The flowers are usually white or yellowish. They often have purple spots or patterns on their "lips."
Special Uses of Dwarf Skullcap
Like some other skullcap plants, the dwarf skullcap has been used in traditional remedies. People have used it for its natural properties.
