Little Aguja pondweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Aguja pondweed |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Potamogeton
|
| Species: |
clystocarpus
|
Potamogeton clystocarpus is a very rare type of water plant. People also call it the Little Aguja pondweed. It belongs to the pondweed family. This special plant is found only in Texas, in the United States. It lives in just one river canyon in Jeff Davis County.
The Little Aguja pondweed has only ever been seen in Little Aguja Creek. This means it is an endemic species, which means it naturally lives in only one specific place. Because it is so rare, the United States government has listed it as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
Contents
About the Little Aguja Pondweed
This water plant has a stem that can grow up to 57 centimeters long. Its length changes depending on how deep the water is. The plant has thin leaves that grow in a spiral shape. These leaves can be up to 7.8 centimeters long and only 1 or 2 millimeters wide.
Most of the plant stays under the water. But its flowers, called the inflorescence, grow a few centimeters above the water's surface. This is the only part of the plant that you can see out of the water.
How the Plant Reproduces
The Little Aguja pondweed can make new plants in two ways.
- Sexual reproduction: It can make seeds, which then grow into new plants.
- Vegetative reproduction: Pieces of its stem can break off. These broken pieces can then grow new roots and attach to the bottom of the creek. This allows them to form a brand new plant.
Not much else is known about the full life history of this unique plant.
Where the Plant Lives
Scientists have known about and collected this plant since 1931. Even though it only lives in one small area, it used to be very common there. The Little Aguja Creek flows from the Davis Mountains in West Texas. This creek is always changing.
Sometimes, during a drought, the water levels get very low. At other times, during heavy rains, the creek can have strong floods. These floods can wash away everything in the canyon. The water quality in the creek can also change. This can happen because of chemicals or from livestock that live upstream.
Why It's Hard to Find Now
In 1991 and 1992, there were very big floods in the canyon. These floods were so strong that they scoured, or cleaned out, the creek bed. Since those floods, no one has seen the Little Aguja pondweed. Scientists have looked for it many times, but they have not been able to find it again.
