Butte County checkerbloom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Butte County checkerbloom |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sidalcea
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| Species: |
robusta
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Sidalcea robusta, also known as the Butte County checkerbloom, is a unique flowering plant. It belongs to the mallow family, which includes many familiar plants like cotton and hibiscus. This plant is quite rare and special.
Butte County Checkerbloom: What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a type of perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread and grow new shoots.
The Butte County checkerbloom has a strong stem that can grow very tall, sometimes over a meter (about 3.3 feet) high! The upper parts of the plant are mostly smooth, with only a few hairs near the bottom. Its leaves are divided into pointed sections and have tiny, stiff hairs on top.
The flowers grow in a long, open cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can be about 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches) long. Each flower has five soft, pale pink petals. These petals can be up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long. As the flowers get older and dry out, their petals often turn a yellowish color.
Where Does the Butte County Checkerbloom Grow?
The Sidalcea robusta is an endemic plant. This means it grows naturally in only one specific place in the world. For this plant, that place is Butte County, California. There are only about 20 known spots where it grows, including some areas near the city of Chico.
You can find this plant living in chaparral and woodland areas. These are types of habitats found in the foothills of mountains. Chaparral is a kind of shrubland with tough, drought-resistant plants.
Why Is This Plant Special?
The Butte County checkerbloom is considered an Endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. Organizations like the California Native Plant Society and The Nature Conservancy keep track of rare and endangered plants. They list Sidalcea robusta as a species that needs protection.
Protecting plants like the Butte County checkerbloom is important. It helps keep our natural world diverse and healthy for everyone.
