San Clemente Island woodland star facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Clemente Island woodland star |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lithophragma
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| Species: |
maximum
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The San Clemente Island woodland star (Lithophragma maximum) is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the saxifrage family. This special plant only grows on San Clemente Island. This island is one of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of California. It lives on about four kilometers of rocky cliffs near the ocean.
People thought this plant had disappeared forever. But then, a few plants were found again in 1979! In 1996, only about 200 of these plants were counted. Because it is so rare, the government listed it as an endangered species in 1997. This means it needs special protection to survive.
Contents
What Does the Woodland Star Look Like?
The San Clemente Island woodland star is a type of plant called a rhizomatous perennial herb. This means it lives for many years. It grows from an underground stem called a rhizome. The plant can stand up straight or lean over. It has a thin stem that holds its flowers.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the plant grow on the lower part of the stem. Each leaf is split into three smaller parts. These smaller parts have sharp, jagged edges, like tiny teeth.
The stem can hold up to 25 flowers. Each flower sits in a cup-shaped part called a calyx. The calyx is made of red or green sepals. The flower has five petals. These petals are usually white or have a light pink color. They are about 4 millimeters long. Each petal is often divided into about five pointed sections.
Protecting the San Clemente Island Woodland Star
By the year 2000, there were more than 400 of these plants. However, about a quarter of them were all growing in just one canyon. All of these plants live on land that belongs to the United States Navy. The Navy helps to take care of the land.
Past Threats to the Plant
Two main things used to threaten the San Clemente Island woodland star. One was erosion, which is when soil and rocks wear away. This can damage the plant's home. The other big problem was wild animals. There were many feral goats and pigs roaming the island. These animals would eat the plants or stomp on them.
Luckily, the Navy helped solve the animal problem. They removed the wild goats and pigs from the island. This helped protect the woodland star from being eaten.
Why Protecting Each Plant Group Matters
Scientists studied the plant's genes. They found that different groups of these plants have a good amount of genetic diversity. This means there's a lot of variety in their genes. This is probably because the plant groups live in separate, rugged areas.
This discovery is important. It shows that we need to protect each group of plants. By doing so, we can save all the different genetic types. This helps the San Clemente Island woodland star stay strong and healthy for the future.
