Plantago tweedyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plantago tweedyi |
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Plantago
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tweedyi
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Plantago tweedyi, also known as Tweedy's plantain, is a type of plant that lives for many years. It belongs to the plantain family. This plant grows naturally in the western United States. You can find it from New Mexico and Arizona up north to Montana.
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Naming Tweedy's Plantain
Scientists give plants special names to help identify them. Plantago tweedyi was first described in 1886. A famous botanist named Asa Gray gave it its name. He named it after Frank Tweedy, who was the first person to collect this plant.
Frank Tweedy's original plant sample is kept at Harvard University. This first sample is very important for identifying the species. Sometimes, scientists learn new things and change a plant's classification. In 1976, some thought it was a variety of another plant. But more recently, in 2019, it was recognized again as its own full species.
What Tweedy's Plantain Looks Like
Tweedy's plantain is a small plant. It usually grows up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. It has a strong main root called a taproot. The leaves grow from the base of the plant. They are shaped like a spear and can be up to 13 centimeters long. These leaves are smooth and feel a bit thick or fleshy.
The plant's flowers grow on tall stems. These stems are called scapes. The flowers are tiny, only about 2.5 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. They are packed closely together in brownish or greenish spikes. These spikes can be up to 10 centimeters long. After the flowers, small seed pods called capsules form. They are about 3 to 4 millimeters long.
Where Tweedy's Plantain Grows
This plant is native to the western parts of the United States. It grows in many states. These include northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
You can find Tweedy's plantain in different places. It likes grasslands and open areas with sagebrush. It also grows in meadows and on dry, somewhat rocky hillsides. It can be found at high elevations. These range from about 1,600 to 4,000 meters (about 5,200 to 13,000 feet) above sea level.
How Tweedy's Plantain Was Discovered
As mentioned, Tweedy's Plantain was named by Asa Gray. He honored botanist Frank Tweedy with the name. Frank Tweedy was the first person to collect this plant. He found it on grassy slopes near the East Fork of the Yellowstone River.
At that time, Frank Tweedy was working for the United States Geological Survey. He was a topographer, which means he mapped out land. He was doing this work in Yellowstone National Park when he discovered the plant.
