Leavenworthia uniflora facts for kids
Leavenworthia uniflora, also known as Michaux's gladecress or one-flowered gladecress, is a fascinating plant. It's a type of wildflower found in the southeastern and Midwestern parts of the United States. This plant gets its common names from its discoverer, André Michaux, and because it often has just one flower per stem.
Quick facts for kids Leavenworthia uniflora |
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| Dried siliques of Leavenworthia uniflora from Ketona Glades (Dolomite substrate) Alabama | |
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Leavenworthia
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| Species: |
uniflora
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Contents
About Michaux's Gladecress
Michaux's gladecress is a small, delicate plant. It's part of the mustard family, which includes many common vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. This plant is known for its pretty white flowers.
Where This Plant Grows
This special plant grows in several states across the United States. You can find it in places like northwestern Georgia and northern Alabama. It also grows in Tennessee, northern Arkansas, and southern Missouri. Other states where it lives include Kentucky, southeastern Indiana, and southwestern Ohio.
Michaux's gladecress loves sunny spots. It usually grows in open areas where it can get plenty of sunlight. You'll find it in places that are not very high up, usually below 500 meters (about 1,700 feet) above sea level.
What Michaux's Gladecress Looks Like
This plant is quite small. It can grow up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. That's roughly the length of a standard pencil!
Its Leaves
The leaves of Michaux's gladecress grow mostly at the bottom of the plant. These basal leaves can be up to 13 centimeters (about 5.2 inches) long. They are shaped in a special way, with 3 to 10 pairs of small, rounded sections, almost like tiny feathers.
Its Flowers
The flowers of this plant are usually white. They are quite small, measuring up to 6 millimeters across. Often, you'll see just one flower on each stem, which is why it's also called "one-flowered gladecress."
Its Fruits
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruits. These fruits are long and narrow, shaped like small pods. They can grow up to 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. These pods contain the seeds that will grow into new plants.
