Russethair saxifrage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Russethair saxifrage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Micranthes
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| Species: |
ferruginea
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The Micranthes ferruginea is a type of flowering plant. People often call it the russethair saxifrage or rusty saxifrage. This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from Alaska and northwestern Canada all the way down to northern California and Wyoming. It likes to live in wet, rocky places, especially in mountains.
About the Russethair Saxifrage
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for many years, not just one season. It grows from a thick stem base called a caudex and underground stems called rhizomes. These parts help the plant spread and store energy.
What the Plant Looks Like
The russethair saxifrage has a group of leaves at its base. This group looks like a circle, which is called a basal rosette. Each leaf can be up to 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) long. They are thick and feel a bit fleshy. The edges of the leaves have large teeth.
A thin, hairy stem grows up from the plant. This stem is called a peduncle. It can reach up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. This stem holds the plant's flowers.
Flowers and Reproduction
The main stem has smaller branches. These branches hold the flowers and special little plant parts called bulbils. Bulbils are like tiny baby plants that can grow into new plants.
Each flower has white petals that look a bit like spades. The upper petals have small gold dots on them. This makes the flowers look very pretty. The plant uses its flowers and bulbils to make new plants.
