Needleleaf pincushionplant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Needleleaf pincushionplant |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Navarretia
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| Species: |
intertexta
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The Navarretia intertexta is a type of flowering plant. It is often called the needleleaf pincushionplant because of its unique look. This plant belongs to the phlox family.
What is the Needleleaf Pincushionplant?
The needleleaf pincushionplant is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle, from seed to flower to seed, in just one year. It can grow up to about 28 centimeters (about 11 inches) tall. Sometimes it grows straight up, and other times it spreads out wider than it is tall.
Plant Features
The leaves of this plant are quite special. They are divided into many thin, sharp parts that look like needles. This is where the "needleleaf" part of its name comes from!
The flowers grow in a tight cluster, like a small head. Around these flower heads are special leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts also have needle-shaped tips. The whole plant, especially the flower heads, can be covered in dense, soft hairs. The flowers themselves are small and shaped like tubes. They can be white or blue in color.
Where Does This Plant Live?
You can find the needleleaf pincushionplant growing naturally in western North America. This includes most of the western United States and even extends into the Midwest.
It likes to grow in different kinds of places. You might spot it in wet meadows or in special seasonal ponds called vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary pools of water that appear in spring and dry up later in the year.
