Umbrella starwort facts for kids

Stellaria umbellata, also known as umbrella starwort or umbellate starwort, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which is often called the "pink family" because many plants in it have pink flowers. This plant is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems instead of woody ones.

Where Does Umbrella Starwort Grow?

This plant is native to many cool places. You can find it in western North America, from Alaska and northwestern Canada all the way down to the southwestern United States. It also grows in parts of Asia, including Siberia.

Its Mountain Home

Umbrella starwort loves to grow in high places. It thrives in subalpine and alpine climates. These are cold, mountain areas found just below or above the tree line. You can often spot it in mountain forests and along riverbanks where the ground is moist.

What Does Umbrella Starwort Look Like?

This plant usually grows a thin stem that lies flat on the ground. It can reach about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long. Sometimes, many stems grow together, forming small clumps or mats on the ground.

Stems and Leaves

The stems of the umbrella starwort are lined with pairs of oval-shaped leaves. Each leaf can be up to about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. The plant spreads using special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant grow new shoots and spread across an area.

Flowers and Petals

The flowers of the umbrella starwort grow in a special shape called an umbel. This means the flowers are arranged like the ribs of an umbrella, all coming from a central point. Each flower sits on its own little stalk, called a pedicel.

Each flower has five pointed green parts called sepals. These sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They are usually no more than 3 millimeters long. Sometimes, you might see tiny white petals inside the green sepals, but often, these petals are not there at all.