Heartleaf foamflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heartleaf foamflower |
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| Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina, US | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tiarella
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| Species: |
cordifolia
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| Subspecies | |
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T. c. var. austrina |
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| Synonyms | |
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Tiarella wherryi Lakela |
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The Heartleaf Foamflower, also known as Tiarella cordifolia, is a beautiful flowering plant found in North America. It's part of the saxifrage family, which includes many other cool plants. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years and its stems are soft, not woody. People love to grow it in gardens because of its pretty, foamy, cream-colored flowers that stand tall in the summer.
Contents
What Does it Look Like?
The Heartleaf Foamflower has a special underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome grows sideways and helps the plant spread. It also has runners that grow along the ground.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves are about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. They grow from the base of the plant and have long stalks. Each leaf is hairy and has 3 to 7 shallow rounded parts, like small fingers. The base of the leaf is shaped like a heart, which is how the plant gets its name. The leaves are usually dark green with brown spots and feel rough on top, but soft underneath. The plant also grows tall flowering stems, which can reach up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) high.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers are small, white, and look feathery. They grow in a tall, upright cluster on a stem that has no leaves. This cluster, called an inflorescence, can be 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) tall. Each flower has 5 petals and 10 long, thin stamens. These stamens make the flower cluster look fuzzy, like foam. After the flowers bloom, they produce two unequal seed capsules. These capsules split open to release several small, pitted seeds.
How it Spreads
Unlike some other plants, the Heartleaf Foamflower spreads well using its rhizomes. This means it can cover an area nicely without taking over too much. It's a good choice for a groundcover, which is a plant that spreads low to the ground. Small bees, syrphus flies, and butterflies visit the flowers. These insects help the plant with pollination, which is how plants make seeds.
This plant is so lovely that it has won an award! The Royal Horticultural Society gave it their Award of Garden Merit.
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Where Does the Name Come From?
The name Tiarella means "a little tiara." A tiara is a small crown. This name comes from the Greek word tiara, which means turban. The plant's name refers to its unequal seedpods, which might look a bit like a tiny crown. The second part of its scientific name, cordifolia, is Latin. It means "heart-shaped leaves," which perfectly describes the plant's leaves.
Special Varieties
One special type of Heartleaf Foamflower is called Tiarella cordifolia 'FM Mooberry'. It was named after F. M. Mooberry from the Brandywine Conservancy.
Traditional Uses
In the past, people used the Heartleaf Foamflower in traditional medicine. It was thought to be a tonic, which helps to make you feel stronger. It was also used as a diuretic, which helps the body get rid of extra water. People used it to help with problems related to the kidneys, liver, and even breathing difficulties.
