Rugel's Indian plantain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rugels ragwort |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
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Senecioneae
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| Genus: |
Rugelia
Shuttlew. ex Chapm.
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| Species: |
R. nudicaulis
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| Binomial name | |
| Rugelia nudicaulis Shuttlew. ex Chapm.
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Rugelia nudicaulis, also known as Rugel's Indian plantain or Rugels ragwort, is a special wildflower. It is the only plant in its group, called the genus Rugelia. This plant blooms in the summer months.
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About Rugel's Ragwort
Rugel's ragwort is a unique plant. It is a wildflower that grows only in certain places. You can find it in the higher parts of the Great Smoky Mountains. This means it is "endemic" to that area. Endemic means it naturally lives only in one specific place in the world.
Where Rugel's Ragwort Lives
This plant is mostly found in the mountains. It grows in the Great Smoky Mountains, which are located in the eastern United States. Specifically, it is found in parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. It prefers the cooler, higher elevations.
Why Rugel's Ragwort Is Rare
Rugel's ragwort is considered a rare species. This means there are not many of these plants left. In Tennessee, it is especially rare. Scientists worry about its future.
One reason for concern is its "genetic diversity." Genetic diversity is like having many different traits within a group. If a plant has low genetic diversity, it means all the plants are very similar. This can make them less able to survive big changes. For example, if the weather changes a lot, or a new disease appears, plants with low diversity might struggle.
How It Got Its Name
Scientists group plants and animals into different families. At first, Rugel's ragwort was placed in the Senecio group. Later, it moved to the Cacalia group. Finally, scientists decided it was so unique that it needed its own group. That is how it got its very own genus, Rugelia. It was named after a botanist named Ferdinand Rugel.
Images for kids
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Rugel's Ragwort blooming in the Great Smoky Mountains.
