Mount Whitney draba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Whitney draba |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Draba
|
| Species: |
sharsmithii
|
The Draba sharsmithii is a special kind of flowering plant. It's often called the Mt. Whitney draba or Sharsmith's draba. This plant is part of the Brassicaceae family, which is also known as the mustard family. It's quite rare to find!
What Does It Look Like?
The Mt. Whitney draba is a small plant that lives for many years. It grows low to the ground, forming thick, soft patches or cushions. Its leaves are fuzzy and shaped like ovals, but they are very tiny, usually less than one centimeter long.
When it blooms, a straight stem grows up from the plant. This stem holds several bright yellow flowers. After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit called a silique. This fruit is a twisted, spear-shaped seed pod. It can grow up to two centimeters long and holds several seeds inside. These seeds do not have wings.
Where Does It Live?
The Mt. Whitney draba is a plant that lives only in one specific area. It is found only in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. You can find it in less than ten known spots. It likes to grow in rocky areas high up in the mountains. These places are called alpine and subalpine habitats. This means it lives in very cold, high-altitude environments, often above the tree line.
