Terlingua Creek cat's-eye facts for kids
Cryptantha crassipes is a very rare flowering plant. It is also known as the Terlingua Creek cat's-eye. This plant belongs to the borage family. It grows only in Brewster County, Texas. There are only about ten small groups of these plants left. In total, there are around 5,000 plants. All of them are found within a small area, about ten kilometers wide. Because it is so rare, the United States government has listed it as an endangered species. This means it is protected by law.
Quick facts for kids Terlingua Creek cat's-eye |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
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| Order: |
(unplaced)
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| Genus: |
Cryptantha
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| Species: |
C. crassipes
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| Binomial name | |
| Cryptantha crassipes I.M.Johnst.
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What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and grows back each year. It has several straight stems. These stems can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall. At the bottom of the stems, there is a cluster of leaves. The whole plant is covered in soft, bristly, silvery hairs.
Its flowers are white with yellow centers. They grow in a cluster at the top of the plant. Sometimes, these plants can look like they are covered in a black fungus.
Where Does It Live?
This special plant grows only on a unique rock formation. This formation is called the Fizzle Flat lentil. It is located in the Terlingua Creek area. This area is just north of Big Bend National Park in Texas.
The Fizzle Flat lentil is a special type of limestone rock. It has a lot of gypsum and clay in it. Local people sometimes call this area a "moonscape." This is because it looks pale yellow and very dry. The rock formation is about 50 feet thick. The rock is chalky and breaks into flat pieces. It also contains many fossils.
The area is very dry and gets a lot of hot sunlight. Most of the Fizzle Flat lentil has no plants growing on it. However, Cryptantha crassipes and a few other tough plants, like Castilleja elongata and Lycium berberioides, grow around its edges. This plant needs this specific type of rocky soil to survive.
Protecting This Rare Plant
The land where this plant grows is all privately owned. This means it is not part of a national park or protected area. Because of this, the land is not officially protected.
Human activities in the area can affect the plant. For example, Off-road vehicles sometimes drive on these unique badlands. Also, the land is used for mining a type of clay called bentonite. People also use the area for grazing livestock, like cows or goats. These activities can disturb the plant's habitat. Protecting this plant means making sure its special home is not harmed.
