Schreiteria macrocarpa facts for kids

Schreiteria is a special group of flowering plants. It belongs to the Montiaceae family. This group has only one known type of plant, which is called Schreiteria macrocarpa. This plant naturally grows in the northwest part of Argentina.

What it Looks Like

Schreiteria macrocarpa is a perennial herb. This means it's a small plant that lives for more than two years. It has roots that are like small, round tubers, similar to tiny potatoes.

Its flowers grow in clusters called cymes. The small leaf-like parts near the flowers, called bracts, and the outer parts of the flower, called sepals, stay on the plant even when the fruit is ripe. However, the bracts eventually fall off.

The pollen of this plant has many grooves, which is a special feature. The seed capsule, which holds the seeds, can grow up to 40 millimeters (about 1.5 inches) long. It opens with three parts, like a small box. The seeds inside are flat and have tiny bumps all over them. Inside each seed, the plant's baby part, called an embryo, almost completely surrounds the food storage part, called the perisperm.

Naming the Plant

The name of the plant group, Schreiteria, honors Carlos Rodolfo Schreiter. He was a German-Argentinian botanist who lived from 1877 to 1942. He was a student of another famous botanist, Miguel Lillo.

The second part of the plant's scientific name, macrocarpa, describes its fruit. In Greek, 'makros' means large, and 'karpos' means fruit. So, macrocarpa means "with large fruit."

Both the group name (genus) and the specific plant name were first officially written down in a science book called Parodiana in 1985.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agricultural Research Service recognize this plant group. However, they don't list any other specific types of Schreiteria plants besides Schreiteria macrocarpa.

See also

In Spanish: Schreiteria macrocarpa para niños