Tahquitz mousetail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tahquitz mousetail |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ivesia
|
| Species: |
callida
|
Ivesia callida is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the rose family. People often call it the Tahquitz mousetail.
This special plant only grows in one small area. It is found in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County, California. Scientists know of only two places where it lives! It likes to grow in tiny cracks and spaces on granite cliffs. The plant gets its name from Tahquitz, a famous rock in the mountains where it grows.
About the Tahquitz Mousetail
The Tahquitz mousetail is a small plant that lives for many years. It is a type of herb (a plant with soft stems). It forms flat, tangled clumps of leaves that hang down from cliff faces.
What It Looks Like
Leaves and Stems
The leaves of the Tahquitz mousetail are long and thin. They can be up to 7 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Each leaf has several pairs of small, oval-shaped green parts called leaflets. These leaflets are often a bit hairy and sticky. The plant's thin, green stems can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. They also hang down from the rocks.
Flowers and Reproduction
The stems hold groups of several small flowers. Each flower has five fuzzy, pointed parts called sepals. It also has five round or oval white petals. In the middle of the flower, there are twenty stamens. These stamens have flat, disc-shaped tops. The flower also has several pistils, which are the parts that will make seeds.
This plant is very important because it is so rare. Protecting its home in the San Jacinto Mountains helps it survive.
