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Four-leaved allseed facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Polycarpon tetraphyllum, also known as four-leaved allseed, is a small plant that belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. This family includes plants like carnations and chickweeds.

This plant is an annual herb, which means it grows, flowers, and dies within one year. It usually grows up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) tall. You can often find it growing in sandy areas, near coasts, or in places where the ground has been disturbed, like empty lots.

Polycarpon tetraphyllum is originally from Europe. However, it has spread and now grows naturally in parts of North America, Australia, and other places around the world. In Britain, it's quite rare, except for the Scilly Isles.


Quick facts for kids
Four-leaved allseed
Polycarpon tetraphyllum.jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Polycarpon
Species:
tetraphyllum
Synonyms

What Does It Look Like?

Polycarpon tetraphyllum is a herbaceous plant that grows close to the ground. It has many branches coming from its stems. Its leaves are shaped like an egg, wider at the top, and are smooth (without hairs).

The plant produces many tiny flowers that grow in loose groups at the end of each stem. After flowering, it forms small, round seeds. These seeds are very tiny, only about 0.4 to 0.5 millimeters long.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant is originally from Southern Europe, the British Isles, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Over time, it has been introduced to new places. Now, you can find it in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

Polycarpon tetraphyllum often grows in places where the ground has been disturbed or in shady spots. It is commonly seen as a weed growing in cracks in roads, in gardens, and in fields.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Polycarpon tetraphyllum para niños

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