Whitewicky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitewicky |
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| 1910 illustration | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kalmia
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| Species: |
cuneata
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| Synonyms | |
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Chamaedaphne cuneata (Michx.) Kuntze |
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The Kalmia cuneata, also called whitewicky, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the heath family, just like blueberries! This plant grows naturally only in the eastern United States. You can find it in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Contents
What is Whitewicky?
The whitewicky is a type of shrub. It can grow quite tall, reaching about 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 6.7 feet). A special thing about this plant is that it is deciduous. This means its leaves fall off in the autumn, just like many trees. This helps tell it apart from other similar plants.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the whitewicky are shaped like a spear, wide at the bottom and narrower at the top. They can be up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long and 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) wide. They are light green during the summer. In the fall, they turn a pretty red color. The leaves grow one after another along the stem.
The plant produces groups of up to 10 flowers. These flowers have five petals that are joined together. They form an open, cup-like shape. The petals are white, but they have a red ring near the center. Inside the flower, there are ten stamens. After the flowers, small fruits grow. These fruits are called capsules.
How to Spot Whitewicky
It's easy to tell Kalmia cuneata from other plants in its family. For example, Kalmia carolina is an evergreen plant, meaning its leaves stay green all year. It also has pink flowers and leaves that grow directly opposite each other. Another plant, Kalmia latifolia, is also evergreen. Its flowers grow at the very end of its branches.
Where Whitewicky Grows
Kalmia cuneata mostly grows in a special area. This area is where the Carolina Sandhills meet pocosins. Pocosins are a type of wetland. The soil in these places is usually wet and acidic.
Plant Neighbors
Many other shrubs grow alongside the whitewicky. These include plants like Rhododendron viscosum, Lyonia lucida, L. ligustrina, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Zenobia pulverulenta. Other shrubs like Clethra alnifolia and Ilex glabra also share this habitat.
There are also trees in these areas. However, they are usually small and do not create much shade. This is because wildfires often happen in these habitats. Wildfires help keep the trees small. This allows the shrubs and smaller plants to grow well.
Protecting Whitewicky
Kalmia cuneata is found in seven counties in North Carolina. It also grows in one county in South Carolina. The areas where it grows today are similar to where it grew in the past. However, it now covers less total land.
The biggest danger to this plant is when fires are stopped. Natural fires are important for its habitat. Without them, larger trees can grow too big and block the sunlight. Other threats include turning land into farms or building new homes.
