Navajo tea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Navajo tea |
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| Conservation status | |
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Thelesperma
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| Species: |
T. pubescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Thelesperma pubescens Dorn
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Thelesperma pubescens is a special kind of flowering plant. People often call it hairy greenthread or Uinta greenthread. It belongs to the aster family, which includes daisies and sunflowers. This plant naturally grows in parts of Wyoming and Utah in the United States. Scientists first described this unique plant in 1983.
Contents
About the Hairy Greenthread
What Does It Look Like?
The hairy greenthread is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from a strong, woody taproot (a main root that grows straight down). Its base is thick and branching, often covered with old leaves from past years. The stems can grow up to about 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) tall.
Most of the plant's leaves are found near its base, and the stems themselves have very few leaves. The leaves can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. Many of them are divided into thin, narrow parts. A special feature of this plant is that its leaves are covered in short hairs, which helps identify it.
Its Flowers and Fruit
The plant has flower heads that contain small, yellow flowers in the center. These tiny flowers often have reddish lines. Unlike some other aster plants, the hairy greenthread does not have large, petal-like flowers (called ray florets) around the outside.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small, dry fruit called an achene. This fruit holds just one seed. The hairy greenthread usually blooms in July and August.
Where Does It Live?
This plant is quite rare and only grows in specific places. It is found on a special type of rocky ground called the Bishop Conglomerate, which is a unique geological formation. It prefers rocky, uneven ground on open, windy mountain sides.
In Wyoming, the hairy greenthread is only found on the northern slopes of the Uinta Mountains. There are only four known places where this plant grows in that area.
What Threats Does It Face?
The hairy greenthread faces a few challenges that could harm it. One big threat is the building of new roads. Roads can cut through the plant's natural home. They also make it easier for introduced species (plants brought in from other places) to spread. For example, a plant called Bromus tectorum (also known as cheatgrass) can easily spread along new roads and compete with the hairy greenthread.
Building oil and gas wells might also be a small threat. This is mainly because new roads and pipelines are often built for these projects, which can disturb the plant's habitat.
