Ballhead waterleaf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballhead waterleaf |
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| Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii (Tom McCall Preserve, Oregon) | |
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| Genus: |
Hydrophyllum
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| Species: |
capitatum
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The Hydrophyllum capitatum, also known as the ballhead waterleaf, is a cool plant found in Western North America. It gets its common name because its flowers grow in a tight, round cluster, like a little ball! This plant is native to a wide area, stretching from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to Utah in the United States.
Contents
Where Does the Ballhead Waterleaf Grow?
The ballhead waterleaf naturally grows across the western parts of the United States. You can find it in states like California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. It also grows north of the border in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.
What Kind of Place Does It Like?
This plant is pretty tough! It can grow in places that are dry and a bit bare, but also in shadier spots. It prefers soil that isn't too coarse, like fine or medium dirt. You'll often see the ballhead waterleaf in open woodlands or on hillsides.
It doesn't like salty soil and prefers an environment with a pH level between 6.4 and 7.8. This means the soil is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. The ballhead waterleaf is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It can handle cold temperatures down to -28 degrees Fahrenheit and needs about 16 to 30 inches of rain each year.
What Does the Ballhead Waterleaf Look Like?
These plants usually stand about 10 to 40 centimeters (about 4 to 16 inches) tall. They are covered in tiny hairs and have one or a few stems. Their roots can go deep, up to 10 inches into the ground.
The leaves are green and grow one after another along the stem. Each leaf is divided into 7 to 11 smaller leaflets, like feathers. The whole leaf blade can be about 10 cm (4 inches) wide and 15 cm (6 inches) long.
Flower Differences
The flowers of the ballhead waterleaf often grow close to the ground, hidden below the leaves. This is common for one type called Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum. However, there's a smaller version of this plant found in northern Oregon and southern Washington. This dwarf form, called Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii, has its flower heads on long stalks that stand above the leaves.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Hydrophyllum capitatum are bell-shaped and can be white to purplish-blue. They are about 5 to 9 centimeters (about 2 to 3.5 inches) long. Each flower has five fuzzy sepals, which are like small leaf-like structures that protect the bud.
Inside each flower, there are five long stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. The flowers bloom from March to July, and this is when they often show their beautiful purple color. After the flowers, the plant produces small capsules as fruit. Each capsule usually holds 1 to 3 seeds.
How People Used This Plant
Long ago, Native Americans and early settlers found a use for plants in the Hydrophyllum family, including the ballhead waterleaf. They would cook the leaves and roots of these plants to eat as greens.
Images for kids
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Hydrophyllum capitatum var. alpinum (Ochoco National Forest, Oregon)
