Greenman's desertparsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greenman's desertparsley |
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Selineae
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L. greenmanii
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| Lomatium greenmanii Mathias
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Lomatium greenmanii is a very special and rare flowering plant. It is also known as Greenman's desertparsley or Greenman's biscuitroot. This plant belongs to the carrot family, just like the carrots you might eat!
It is found only in one small area of the state of Oregon in the United States. This makes it an endemic species, meaning it lives nowhere else in the world!
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About Greenman's Desertparsley
This unique plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for many years, not just one season. It is quite small, growing only a few centimeters tall. Its leaves are green and look like they have been cut into many tiny pieces. They are usually found at the base of the plant.
What Does It Look Like?
The plant has small, bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in a special cluster called an umbel. An umbel looks a bit like an umbrella, with all the flower stalks coming from one point.
This plant blooms in July and August. It waits until the snow has melted in its high mountain home.
Where Does It Grow?
Greenman's desertparsley grows in the subalpine zone. This is a high mountain area just below the tree line. It likes rocky places or open meadows. You can often find it growing among conifer trees, like pines and firs.
It shares its home with other mountain plants. These might include short-leaved fescue, narrow false oat, or dwarf mountain fleabane.
Why Is It Special?
This plant is very rare because it grows on only three mountain peaks. All of these peaks are in one mountain range in northeastern Oregon. This small area is the only place on Earth where you can find Lomatium greenmanii.
Protecting This Plant
Because it is so rare, this plant needs protection. One of the biggest threats to it is people walking on it. Hikers and tourists visiting places like Mount Howard can accidentally step on the plants.
Trampling can make the rocky ground unstable. It can also crush tiny new plants, called seedlings, before they have a chance to grow big and strong. Protecting its habitat helps this special plant survive.
