Sitka mistmaiden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sitka mistmaiden
Romanzoffia sitchensis in John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor, Oregon
Scientific classification
Genus:	Romanzoffia
Species:	sitchensis

The Romanzoffia sitchensis is a pretty flowering plant. It is often called the Sitka mistmaiden. This plant belongs to the borage family, specifically the waterleaf subfamily.

What is the Sitka Mistmaiden?

The Sitka mistmaiden is a type of plant that produces flowers. It's known for its delicate white flowers. The plant's scientific name, Romanzoffia sitchensis, helps scientists identify it.

Where Does the Sitka Mistmaiden Grow?

This plant is native to western North America. You can find it in many places, from Alaska down to northern California. It also grows inland in British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana.

The Sitka mistmaiden likes to grow in damp, rocky areas. It often thrives on mountain cliffsides. This shows how tough and adaptable this small plant can be.

What Does the Plant Look Like?

The Sitka mistmaiden usually grows upright. It can reach about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. Sometimes, it can even grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches).

Its stem is wider at the bottom. This is where the leaf stalks, called petioles, grow out. The leaves themselves are somewhat round or oval. They have small notches, or lobes, along their edges.

Its Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the Sitka mistmaiden grow in a loose cluster. This cluster often curves or droops. Each flower sits on its own small, upright stalk, called a pedicel.

The flower itself looks like a bell or a funnel. It can be a little over a centimeter long. The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is white. It usually has a bright yellow center, or "throat." Around the corolla are thin, narrow leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals form a cup-like structure called the calyx.

After the flower blooms, it produces a small fruit. This fruit is a capsule. It is less than a centimeter long.