Stanleya pinnata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stanleya pinnata |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Stanleya
|
| Species: |
pinnata
|
Stanleya pinnata is a cool flowering plant. It is also known as the desert princesplume. This plant belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which includes plants like broccoli and cabbage! You can find it growing naturally in North America.
Where It Grows
This plant is native to the western parts of the Great Plains. It also grows across western North America.
You can find the desert princesplume in many open areas. These include deserts, chaparral (shrublands), and rocky cliffs. It also grows in foothills, sagebrush areas, and prairies. This plant really likes soils that have a lot of alkali or gypsum.
What It Looks Like
The desert princesplume is a perennial herb or a small shrub. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows several straight stems that can reach up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. The stems are smooth and often look a bit waxy. Their bases are woody, like a small tree.
Its leaves are thick and can be up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. They are about 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide. Each leaf is divided into several long, thin parts. The leaves grow on stalks called petioles.
At the top of each stem, you'll see a long cluster of many flowers. This cluster is called a raceme. Each flower has thin, yellowish sepals. These sepals open up to show four bright yellow petals. Each petal can be up to 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long. Long stamens stick out from the center of the flower. They can be almost 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long!
After the flowers, the plant makes a fruit. It looks like a curved, worm-shaped pod. This pod is called a silique and can be up to 8 centimeters (3 inches) long.
How People Used It
Long ago, Native American people used the desert princesplume. They used it as a traditional medicinal plant to help with illnesses. They also used it as a food source. Different groups used it, including the Hopi, Zuni, Paiute, Navajo, Kawaiisu, and Tewa peoples.
Plant Buddies (Ecology)
The desert princesplume is important for some butterflies! It is a special plant for the caterpillars of two types of butterflies. These are the Becker's white and the Checkered white butterflies. The caterpillars eat the plant's leaves as they grow.
