Showy stickseed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Showy stickseed |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hackelia
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| Species: |
venusta
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The Hackelia venusta, also known as the showy stickseed, is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family. This special plant grows only in Washington state in the United States. It is found in just one canyon in Chelan County. There is only one small group of these plants left in the world. This group covers an area smaller than a football field. Because it is so rare, the showy stickseed was listed as an endangered species in 2002. This means it is protected by law.
Contents
What is the Showy Stickseed?
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows several leafy stems that can be 20 to 40 centimeters tall. That's about the length of a school ruler! The stems grow from a deep main root called a taproot.
Flowers and Fruit
The showy stickseed blooms in April and May. It has clusters of beautiful white or light blue flowers. Each flower is about 2 centimeters wide. They have five round petals and a short tube in the middle.
After the flowers, the plant makes small fruits called nutlets. These nutlets are covered with stiff hairs. These hairs are very important! They help the seeds travel. The hairs can stick to the fur of animals. This way, animals carry the seeds away from the parent plant. The hairs are even stiff enough to stick to human skin.
Where Does the Showy Stickseed Live?
This plant is found only in Tumwater Canyon. This area is part of the Tumwater Botanical Area. It is inside the Wenatchee National Forest. Any other groups of these plants have either disappeared or were found to be different species.
Its Special Home
The showy stickseed grows in open, rocky areas. These are called talus slopes. It also grows on rock ledges. You can find it between groups of Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir trees. The soil there is sandy and rocky. It does not have many nutrients. Few other plants can grow in this tough soil.
This plant needs a lot of sunshine. It cannot grow in the shade. The open areas where it lives are naturally cleared by wildfires. These fires help keep trees and shrubs from growing too big. This makes sure the stickseed gets enough sun.
Why is the Showy Stickseed in Danger?
The showy stickseed faces many threats. Its biggest problem is that there is only one small group of plants left. A single big event, like a very large fire or a landslide, could wipe them all out.
Habitat Changes
People try to stop wildfires to protect homes and property. This is called fire suppression. But when fires are stopped, large trees and shrubs grow taller. They create too much shade for the stickseed. Also, without fires, a thick layer of leaves and other plant material builds up on the forest floor. This makes the soil richer. Then, many other plants can grow and compete with the stickseed for space and nutrients.
When a fire does happen after a long time, it burns much hotter. This can kill the plant's roots. It also makes landslides and erosion more likely.
Other Threats
- New Plants: Some plants from other places, like Dalmatian toadflax, have moved into the area. They compete with the stickseed.
- Human Activities: Road work, chemicals used to kill weeds (called herbicides), and pollution might also harm the plant.
- Low Survival: Not many young stickseed plants (called seedlings) survive to become adult plants.
- Small Gene Pool: Because there are so few plants, they have a small variety in their genes. This can make it harder for them to adapt and survive.
In 2010, scientists counted about 772 showy stickseed plants. Experts believe that for the plant to be safe, there need to be more than 1,000 individuals.
