Tracy's mistmaiden facts for kids

Romanzoffia tracyi, also known as Tracy's mistmaiden or Tracy's romanzoffia, is a small, beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family. This plant is special because it grows only along the coast of western North America. You can find it from northern California all the way up to the southern tip of Vancouver Island in Canada. It loves to grow among rocks on ocean cliffs and bluffs.

What is Tracy's Mistmaiden?

Tracy's mistmaiden is a very small plant. It usually grows to be about 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) tall. Imagine a small ruler; that's how tall it gets! Its leaves and stems grow from a hidden network of hairy, brown tubers. These tubers are like small underground storage units for the plant.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of Tracy's mistmaiden are quite interesting. They have rounded shapes. The edges of the leaves are notched, almost like tiny scallops. Each leaf grows on a stalk called a petiole. These petioles can be several centimeters long.

Flowers and How They Look

The flowers of Tracy's mistmaiden grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster is a short cyme. Each flower is shaped like a small funnel. They are just under a centimeter long, which is less than half an inch. The main part of the flower, called the corolla, is white. It has a bright yellow throat, making it look like a tiny white trumpet with a yellow center. This pretty corolla sits inside a cup-like structure. This cup is made of narrow, pointed parts called sepals.

Where Does Tracy's Mistmaiden Grow?

This unique plant is native to the Pacific coastline. It thrives in rocky areas right by the ocean. Its natural habitat includes:

• Northern California
• Oregon
• Washington (state)
• British Columbia, Canada (specifically the southern tip of Vancouver Island)

It prefers places where it can get plenty of sun and be close to the salty air of the ocean.