Sagebrush cinquefoil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sagebrush cinquefoil |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Potentilla
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| Species: |
johnstonii
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Potentilla johnstonii is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the rose family. People also call it the sagebrush cinquefoil. This plant grows naturally only in Nevada, a state in the United States. So far, it has only been found in one specific place: the Quinn Canyon Range in Nye County.
Discovering This Rare Plant
For many years, scientists knew about this plant. But they thought it was just a type of another plant called Potentilla concinna. Scientists keep special collections of dried plants called herbariums. The plant samples in these collections were labeled incorrectly.
In 2006, scientists looked closely at these plants again. They realized it was not just a variety. It was a completely different species! That's when Potentilla johnstonii was officially named as its own unique plant.
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is quite small. Its stems grow to be about 15 centimeters long. That's about the length of a regular pencil.
The leaves of the plant have small hairs on their stalks, which are called petioles. Each leaf is made up of a few smaller parts called leaflets. The tips of these leaflets have small teeth, like a saw.
The plant produces flowers in a cluster called an inflorescence. Each cluster can have up to 11 flowers. The petals of these flowers are yellow. Each yellow petal is about half a centimeter long.
