Mississippi quillwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mississippi quillwort |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Isoetes
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| Species: |
mississippiensis
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The Mississippi quillwort (its scientific name is Isoetes mississippiensis) is a small plant that lives in water. It's a type of plant that belongs to the Isoetaceae family. This unique plant gets its name from its quill-like leaves and where it lives in the state of Mississippi.
Where the Mississippi Quillwort Lives
You can find the Mississippi quillwort in the southern part of Mississippi. It lives in smaller streams that flow into the Pearl River. These smaller streams are called tributaries.
This plant likes to live in slow-moving streams that don't dry up. Other plants that grow near it include grass-like plants such as rushes and panicgrass.
The Mississippi quillwort is quite rare. It is only known to grow in two places. Sadly, these two places are not protected areas. This means they could be at risk from human activities or changes in their environment.
What the Mississippi Quillwort Looks Like
The Mississippi quillwort has a special base called a rootstock. This part is brown and shaped like two rounded bumps. It's about 0.5 to 1.0 centimeter long and 1.0 to 1.5 centimeters wide.
Its leaves, called sporophylls, are a bright green color. They get darker as they get older and become pale near their base. These leaves grow in a spiral pattern and can be up to 40 centimeters long. They are about 2.0 millimeters wide in the middle.
The plant also has sporangia, which are like small sacs that hold spores. These are oval-shaped and usually 4 to 10 millimeters long and 4 to 5 millimeters wide.
What Makes It Special
The Mississippi quillwort is different from other Isoetes species in a few ways:
- It has 22 chromosomes in its cells (written as 2n=22).
- Its large spores, called megaspores, have a smooth surface.
- It lives in a different kind of watery home compared to other similar plants.
These features help scientists tell the Mississippi quillwort apart from its relatives.
