Pink stickseed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pink stickseed |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hackelia
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| Species: |
mundula
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Hackelia mundula, also known as pink stickseed, is a type of flowering plant in the borage family. It grows in the high mountains of California, especially in the Sierra Nevada. You might also find it in Oregon.
This plant is a lush, hairy perennial herb, which means it lives for many years. It can grow to be about 40 to 80 centimeters (about 1.3 to 2.6 feet) tall.
Contents
What is Pink Stickseed?
Pink stickseed is a beautiful plant that gets its name from its seeds. These seeds have tiny, hair-like prickles that help them stick to animal fur or clothing. This is how the plant spreads its seeds to new places!
Where Does it Grow?
Pink stickseed loves high places! It is native to the tall mountains of California. You can often find it in the Sierra Nevada, a large mountain range that runs through the state. It might also grow in parts of Oregon. These areas have the right climate and soil for the plant to thrive.
What Does it Look Like?
The pink stickseed has several interesting features, from its stems to its unique flowers and fruits.
Stems and Leaves
This plant produces many straight stems. Its leaves are shaped like ovals or spear tips. Most of the leaves grow near the bottom of the plant and can be up to 22 centimeters (about 8.7 inches) long. The upper parts of the stems usually have very few leaves.
Flowers and Fruit
The upper stems hold clusters of small flowers. Each tiny flower has 5 round parts called lobes. These lobes are usually light pink when they first open, but they change to a light blue color as they get older. At the base of each lobe, there is a smaller part that looks like a tiny petal.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces its fruit. The fruit is a small, seed-like part called a nutlet. These nutlets are covered in thin, hair-like prickles. These prickles are what give the plant its common name, "stickseed," because they help the seeds stick to things and travel to new locations.
