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Howell's umbrellawort facts for kids

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Howell's umbrellawort
Tauschiahowellii.jpg
Conservation status

Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Tribe:
Selineae
Genus:
Tauschia
Species:
T. howellii
Binomial name
Tauschia howellii
(J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.F.Macbr.

Howell's tauschia (Tauschia howellii) is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the carrot family, just like the carrots you eat! People also call it Howell's umbrellawort. This plant is quite rare. It grows in the mountains of southern Oregon and northern California.

What is Howell's Tauschia?

Howell's tauschia is a plant that grows back year after year. It is known as a perennial herb. This plant can grow to be about 30 to 80 centimeters tall. That's about the height of a small child! The plant feels smooth and does not have any hairs on it.

Where Does It Live?

This plant is found only in a specific area. It lives in the Klamath Mountains. This mountain range is in far southern Oregon and far northern California. It is especially found in the Siskiyou Mountains part of the Klamath range. Scientists have found only nine places where this plant grows.

Howell's tauschia likes to grow in mountain forests. It prefers rocky soil that has granite in it. You can often find it growing near Shasta red fir trees. These trees are a type of fir tree found in the same mountain areas.

What Does It Look Like?

Howell's tauschia has interesting features. Its leaves, flowers, and fruits help us identify it.

Its Leaves

The leaves of Howell's tauschia are thick. Each leaf blade is divided into smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets have large, sharp teeth along their edges. The edges of the leaves also curve upwards. The leaves grow on long stems called petioles.

Its Flowers and Fruits

The plant produces yellow flowers. These flowers grow in a special cluster called an umbel. An umbel looks a bit like an umbrella. It has several short stalks that spread out from one point. The flowers are small and grow in these clusters.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is small, only a few millimeters long. It is shaped like an oval and has ridges on its surface.

Is It Endangered?

Howell's tauschia is a rare plant. However, scientists say its population is stable. This means that even though it is rare, it is not considered to be in great danger of disappearing. It is important to protect its habitat to keep it safe.

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