Low cryptantha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Low cryptantha |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cryptantha
|
| Species: |
humilis
|
Cryptantha humilis is a small plant that lives for many years. It belongs to the Borage Family, also known as Boraginaceae. People often call it the low cryptantha because it doesn't grow very tall.
Contents
Where the Low Cryptantha Lives
This plant likes to grow in dry, rocky soil. You can find it in places with lots of sagebrush plants. It also lives in subalpine forests, which are forests just below the treeline. Even higher up, it grows in the alpine zone. This is a very cold, windy area with no trees.
The low cryptantha lives in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the United States. It can be found at very high elevations, up to about 3,627 meters (11,900 feet) above sea level!
How the Low Cryptantha Grows
The low cryptantha has many small stems packed closely together. This makes the plant look like a soft, green cushion. It stays very low to the ground, which is why it's called the "low" cryptantha.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves of this plant are covered in tiny hairs. They are shaped a bit like a spoon.
Flowers and Fruit
The low cryptantha has small white flowers. Each flower has five lobes, or sections. Inside the center of the flower, there is a yellow ring. These flowers are less than 1.27 centimeters (1/2 inch) wide.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small, oval-shaped fruits. These fruits are called nutlets. They are more wrinkled than the fruits of a similar plant, C. nubigena.
