Greater showy stickseed facts for kids

Hackelia bella is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family. Many people know it by its common name, greater showy stickseed.

This plant is native to specific parts of the United States. You can find it in the Northern California Coast Ranges. It also grows in the Klamath Mountains. These mountains are located in northeastern California and southwestern Oregon. Hackelia bella likes to live in yellow pine and red fir forest habitats.

What Does Hackelia bella Look Like?

Hackelia bella is a sprawling plant. This means it spreads out as it grows. It has hairy stems that can reach about half a meter (about 20 inches) in height.

Leaves of the Plant

At the base of the plant, there are many long, thin leaves. These leaves can be up to 26 centimeters (about 10 inches) long. Leaves found higher up on the stem are similar but shorter. The very top parts of the stems have only a few leaves.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Hackelia bella are small. Each flower has five lobes, which look like petals. At the base of each lobe, there is a small, petal-like attachment. The flowers are usually white. After the flowers bloom, they produce a fruit. This fruit is a small nutlet. It measures about 5 or 6 millimeters wide.