Howell's quillwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howell's quillwort |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Isoetes
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| Species: |
howellii
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Howell's quillwort (scientific name: Isoetes howellii) is a special type of aquatic plant. It belongs to a group of plants called lycophytes, which are ancient plants that reproduce using spores instead of seeds. This plant is native to North America and loves to grow in wet places.
Where Howell's Quillwort Lives
Howell's quillwort is found in the western parts of North America. It grows in very wet areas, especially in places like vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary ponds that fill with water in the spring and then dry up later in the year. This plant is perfectly adapted to these changing conditions.
What Howell's Quillwort Looks Like
This unique plant produces between 5 and 28 leaves. These leaves are bright green, pointed, and shaped like cylinders. They can grow quite long, sometimes reaching up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) in length.
How Howell's Quillwort Reproduces
Like other lycophytes, Howell's quillwort reproduces using spores. It has special cases called sporangia (spore cases) that are about 6 millimeters long and shaped like a ball. A thin cover called a velum protects about one-third of these spore cases.
The plant also has a small, triangle-shaped flap called a ligule. Inside the spore cases, there are two types of spores. The larger spores, called megaspores, are about 420 to 610 micrometers wide. The smaller, rougher spores, called microspores, are about 25 to 30 micrometers long.
Howell's quillwort is very similar to another plant called I. melanopoda. In fact, scientists first thought it was just a different version of that species.
