Henderson's checker-mallow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henderson's checker-mallow |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sidalcea
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| Species: |
hendersonii
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The Sidalcea hendersonii is a beautiful flowering plant often called Henderson's checker-mallow. It belongs to the mallow family. This plant grows naturally in the Pacific Northwest part of North America. It was named after Dr. Louis Forniquet Henderson, a professor and botanist from Oregon. He lived from 1853 to 1942.
Where Henderson's Checker-Mallow Lives
This special plant grows along the coast. You can find it from southern Oregon up to Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. It prefers tidal marshes and meadows right by the ocean. It needs wet soil to survive.
The Henderson's checker-mallow is quite rare. It is very uncommon in Washington and rare in British Columbia. It is extremely rare to find it in Oregon.
What Henderson's Checker-Mallow Looks Like
The Sidalcea hendersonii is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from thick underground stems called rhizomes. It also has a main root that goes deep into the ground.
At the bottom of the plant, you'll see a group of leaves. These leaves have small teeth along their edges. The plant's stems stand up straight and are hollow inside. They often have a purple color.
Each plant can have many flowers, sometimes fifty or more! The flowers have five petals. They grow in branched clusters at the top of the stems. After the flowers bloom, small seed pods form. These pods have 5 to 10 sections, and each section holds one seed.
Its Habitat and Why It's Special
The Henderson's checker-mallow needs very wet soil. This is why it only grows in coastal areas. It likes tidal marshes and flat areas that get flooded by water. Its home stretches from southern British Columbia down to the mouth of the Umpqua River in Oregon.
This plant is considered "at risk" by a group called NatureServe. This is because it only lives in a small area. Most of these plants are found in Washington state. There are also smaller groups in Oregon and British Columbia. Experts believe there are probably around 10,000 or more of these plants in total. Luckily, there don't seem to be any big threats to this plant right now.
