Palmer's crinklemat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palmer's crinklemat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tiquilia
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| Species: |
palmeri
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| Synonyms | |
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Coldenia palmeri |
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Tiquilia palmeri, also known as Palmer's Crinklemat, is a unique flowering plant. It is part of the borage family. This plant grows naturally in the sandy desert areas of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
About Palmer's Crinklemat
Palmer's Crinklemat is a type of plant called a woody perennial herb. This means it lives for many years. It has a stem that is a bit woody and covered in white bark. The stem also has shaggy hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of Tiquilia palmeri grow in clusters. They are small, usually less than a centimeter long. These leaves are hairy and look a bit wrinkled. Each leaf sits on a longer stalk called a petiole.
The plant's flowers grow in groups. These groups are called an inflorescence. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower is shaped like a bell. They can be purple, lavender, or bluish in color. The flowers are about a centimeter long and have a short, tube-like opening.
Home for Grasshoppers
Tiquilia palmeri is very important for a special insect. It is the main plant that the rare Coachella Valley grasshopper (Spaniacris deserticola) eats. This means the grasshopper relies on Palmer's Crinklemat to survive.
