Physaria pallida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Physaria pallida |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Physaria
|
| Species: |
pallida
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Lesquerella pallida |
|
Physaria pallida, also known as the white bladderpod, is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the mustard family. This plant is found only in Texas, United States. Specifically, it grows only in San Augustine County. Because it is so rare, the U.S. government has listed it as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
What Does the White Bladderpod Look Like?
The white bladderpod is an annual plant. This means it lives for only one growing season. It is a herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. The plant usually grows straight up. It can reach a height of 30 to 60 centimeters (about 1 to 2 feet).
Its leaves come in many shapes. They can have smooth edges, or edges that look like teeth. Some leaves even have rounded parts, called lobes. The longest leaves grow near the bottom of the plant. These can be up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long.
The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. They form a shape called a raceme. This means the flowers grow along a single stem. Each flower has oval-shaped white petals. These petals are yellowish near their base. They are a little over one centimeter long. After the flowers bloom, they produce a round fruit. This fruit is called a silique. Its size can vary from plant to plant.
Where Does the White Bladderpod Live?
Scientists first found this plant in the 1830s. But then, it was not seen again for a very long time! It was finally rediscovered in 1981. The white bladderpod has only ever been found in San Augustine County, Texas. It has never been seen anywhere else in the world.
There are only six known groups of these plants left. They grow in open areas within forests. These forests are usually made up of oak, hickory, and pine trees. The plant needs a special kind of soil to grow. This soil is found in a part of the Piney Woods region. This area is on the Gulf Coastal Plain.
The soil there is special because it is alkaline. This means it is not acidic, like most soils in eastern Texas. This alkaline soil comes from a rock layer called the Weches Formation. This geologic formation has minerals like calcium and magnesium. It also has a layer of glauconite. Glauconite is a mineral that does not let water drain through easily. This keeps the soil above it very moist, which the white bladderpod needs.
Other rare plants also grow on the Weches Formation. These include Sedum pulchellum, Calylophus drummondianus, Liatris mucronata, Paronychia virginica, Petalostemum pulcherrimum, Heliotropium tenellum, Eleocharis compressa, and Cuphea viscosissima.
Protecting the White Bladderpod
The white bladderpod is an endangered species. This means it is in danger of disappearing. Its main threats are the loss and damage to its home. Many of the areas where it grows have been turned into farms or pastures. Some areas have also been damaged by mining for glauconite gravel. This gravel is used to build roads.
Another problem is that other plants are growing too much in the open areas the white bladderpod needs. This is called ecological succession. The white bladderpod does not do well when it has to compete with many other plants.
To help protect the plant, people are working to clear away brush and other plants. They use machines, special plant-killing sprays (herbicides), or even controlled fires. Most of these plants grow on private land. So, protecting the white bladderpod depends a lot on landowners helping out. Their cooperation is very important for the plant's future.
