Sticky sandspurry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sticky sandspurry |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Spergularia
|
| Species: |
macrotheca
|
Spergularia macrotheca, also known as the sticky sandspurry, is a fascinating flowering plant. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, often called the pink family. This plant is special because it can grow in tough places. You can find it in many parts of western North America.
Contents
What is Sticky Sandspurry?
Sticky sandspurry is a type of plant that lives for more than two years. It has a narrow stem that can grow up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) long. The base of its stem is woody and thick. It also has a strong main root called a taproot, which helps it find water deep in the soil.
Where Sticky Sandspurry Grows
This plant is native to a large area in western North America. You can find it from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to Baja California in Mexico. It grows in many different kinds of wet places near the coast and inland.
Special Soil Conditions
Sticky sandspurry often grows in soil that is a bit unusual. It likes alkaline soil, which means the soil has a high pH. It also thrives in saline soil, which is soil that contains a lot of salt.
Habitats It Likes
You might spot this plant in various watery spots. It can be found in marshes, which are wetlands with grassy plants. It also grows in alkali flats, which are dry lakebeds with salty soil. Other places include beaches, meadows, seeps (where water slowly leaks out of the ground), and vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary ponds that fill with water in the wet season and dry up later.
What Sticky Sandspurry Looks Like
The plant's stems can grow straight up or spread out along the ground. They are covered in tiny, sticky hairs. These hairs are especially noticeable on the plant's flowers.
Leaves and Stipules
Along the stems, you'll find fleshy, thin leaves. Sometimes, these leaves have small spines at their tips. Near the base of each leaf, there are small, triangular leaf-like parts called stipules. These stipules can be up to a centimeter (about 0.4 inches) long.
Sticky Sandspurry Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of the sticky sandspurry grow in clusters. You can find these clusters at the very end of the stem. They also appear where the leaves meet the stem.
Flower Details
The flowers are small and pretty. Each flower has five pointed parts called sepals. These sepals protect the flower bud. Inside, there are five oval-shaped petals. The petals can be white or a lovely lavender-pink color.
Seeds and Reproduction
After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a small case called a capsule. Inside the capsule are tiny, reddish-brown seeds. These seeds are special because they have small wings. The wings help the seeds float away on the wind, spreading the plant to new places.
