Physaria fremontii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Physaria fremontii |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Physaria
|
| Species: |
fremontii
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Lesquerella fremontii Rollins & E.A.Shaw |
|
Physaria fremontii, also known as Fremont's bladderpod, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the mustard family, called Brassicaceae. This plant is found only in Wyoming, in the United States. You can mostly find it near the Wind River Range in Fremont County.
Contents
Meet Fremont's Bladderpod!
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a deep root called a taproot. Its stems can spread out on the ground. They can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long.
What Does It Look Like?
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are oval-shaped. They can be up to five centimeters long. Longer, thinner leaves grow along the stems. The flowers have four bright yellow petals. Each flower is about 6 to 8 millimeters long. After the flowers, the plant makes a fruit. This fruit is a puffy or flat pod. It can be up to 7 millimeters long. The pod has tiny hairs on both its inside and outside.
Where Does It Live?
Fremont's bladderpod is a "calciphile." This means it loves to grow on limestone rocks. It also grows on rocks that come from limestone. You can find this plant high up in the mountains. It lives at elevations up to 11,100 feet. This is in the cool, high areas called the subalpine climate.
Its Home and Neighbors
This plant likes open spaces. Its home might have only a few plants. Or it could be covered in cushion plants. These are small, dense plants that grow close to the ground. It also grows in dry mountain meadows. Fremont's bladderpod often grows near Pinus flexilis trees. It also likes to be near Artemisia tripartita. Other plants that live nearby include Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) and Elymus spicatus (bluebunch wheatgrass). Many other interesting plants share its habitat.
Protecting Its Home
The places where Fremont's bladderpod lives can be affected by human activities. Building new roads can disturb its home. Digging for limestone, called quarrying, also impacts it. Fun activities like using off-road vehicles can also harm its habitat. Protecting these areas helps keep this special plant safe.
