Skypilot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skypilot |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Polemonium
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| Species: |
eximium
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The skypilot or showy sky pilot (scientific name: Polemonium eximium) is a special plant that grows back every year. It belongs to the phlox family. You can find it high up in the mountains, usually above 10,000 feet (about 3,000 meters). This amazing plant only grows in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It likes to live on the rocky, steep slopes of these tall mountains.
Many people who love wildflowers think the skypilot is one of the most beautiful flowers in the Sierra Nevada. It's a real treat to discover it!
Contents
Where Skypilot Plants Live
Skypilot plants mostly grow at very high elevations, from about 10,000 to 14,000 feet (3,000 to 4,300 meters). They are found in the middle and southern parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains. These plants often grow together in groups in places that look very bare, like rocky areas with almost no soil. You won't often see other plants growing near them.
You can spot skypilot plants near the top of famous mountains like Mt. Whitney. They also grow on the southern sides of Mt. Langley in the Inyo National Forest. Another place to find them is near the summit of Mount Dana in Yosemite National Park.
What Skypilot Plants Look Like
How Skypilot Plants Grow
The skypilot plant is a sticky plant that smells a bit like spices. It grows from 4 to 16 inches (10 to 40 centimeters) tall. It has a strong, woody base, and from this base, many straight stems grow in clumps. Since it's a perennial, it comes back year after year.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are covered in tiny hairs and feel a bit sticky. They are about 4 to 13 centimeters long and 4 to 9 centimeters wide. Each leaf is made up of 20 to 35 smaller leaflets. These tiny leaflets are then divided into 3 to 5 even smaller parts.
Flowers and Seeds
The skypilot plant has many showy flowers grouped together in a tight bunch at the top. These flowers can be bright deep blue, whitish-blue, or even pink-lavender. They have a pleasant smell. Each flower has a tube-shaped base made of hairy parts called sepals. The main part of the flower is shaped like a funnel and spreads out into wide petals.
The flowers are only fully open for about one day each. This happens during the very short time when the weather is just right for them to bloom. Skypilot plants bloom from June to August.
