Sierra threadplant facts for kids

The Sierra threadplant (scientific name: Nemacladus interior) is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. This plant is known for its delicate, thread-like appearance.

What is the Sierra Threadplant?

The Sierra threadplant is an annual herb. This means it completes its entire life cycle within one year. It grows a stiff, upright stem that can be purple-brown in color. This stem can reach about 25 centimeters (almost 10 inches) tall.

Its Leaves and Flowers

At the bottom of the plant, you'll find small, oval-shaped leaves. These leaves have tiny teeth along their edges. They are usually about 1 to 2 centimeters long.

The plant's flowers grow on a special stem structure called an inflorescence. This part looks like a zigzagging series of branches. Small flowers appear occasionally on thin stalks called pedicels. Each pedicel has a single tiny leaf-like part called a bract at its base.

Flower Details

The flowers themselves are very small, only a few millimeters long. Each flower has five triangular sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. It also has five corolla lobes. The corolla is the colorful part of the flower, often called the petals. In the Sierra threadplant, three of these lobes are on the upper part of the flower, and two are on the lower part.

The corolla can be white, pale purple, or pink. Each lobe has a thin red band and a yellow spot at its base.

Where Does It Grow?

The Sierra threadplant is native to the Sierra Nevada mountains. This mountain range is mainly found in California. You can also find this plant growing in Oregon. It prefers to grow in mountain forest habitats.