Nuttall's sandwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nuttall's sandwort |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Minuartia
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| Species: |
nuttallii
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Minuartia nuttallii is a type of flowering plant. People often call it Nuttall's sandwort or brittle sandwort. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes many kinds of pinks and carnations.
This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from southwestern Canada all the way down to California and Nevada. It likes to grow in different places. These include rocky areas, dry chaparral bushes, and forests. It often grows in special serpentine soils.
About Nuttall's Sandwort
What It Looks Like
Nuttall's sandwort is a small plant that lives for many years. It grows low to the ground, forming flat patches. It has special underground stems called rhizomes. These help it spread and create new plants. The plant's stems and leaves are often covered in tiny hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are thin and stiff. They can sometimes look like tiny needles. Each leaf is usually a little over one centimeter long. But they are very narrow, less than a millimeter wide.
The plant produces small flowers. Each flower has five white petals. These petals are usually less than one centimeter long. The flowers also have pointed parts called sepals. These sepals are often ribbed, meaning they have small ridges.
