Western yampah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western yampah |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Perideridia
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| Species: |
erythrorhiza
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Perideridia erythrorhiza is a special kind of flowering plant. It is often called western yampah or redroot yampah. This plant is part of the Apiaceae family, which also includes carrots and parsley. It is a very rare plant.
This plant is found only in Oregon, United States. When a plant or animal is found only in one place, it is called endemic. There are only about 20 known groups of these plants left. These groups grow in three different areas in southwestern Oregon. These areas are quite far apart, more than 50 miles (80 km). You can find them in the Klamath Mountains and on both sides of the Cascade Range.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It can grow quite tall, up to about 4 feet (1.2 meters) high.
Roots and Flowers
The roots of the redroot yampah are a special color. They are pink to reddish-brown. The plant has an inflorescence, which is a cluster of flowers. These flowers are tiny and white. They grow in a shape called an umbel, which looks like an umbrella. The plant usually blooms, or flowers, from July through September.
Where Does It Live?
Perideridia erythrorhiza likes to grow in flat areas called valley floors. It prefers heavy clay soils.
Its Home
You can find this plant in different types of habitats. These include open grasslands called prairies. It also grows in pastures where animals might graze. Sometimes, it lives at the edges of woodlands. Other plants that often grow near it include tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and California oatgrass (Danthonia californica).
Why Is It Rare?
Many things can make this plant rare and put it in danger. These are called threats.
Threats to Survival
- Building homes: When new houses and buildings are built, the plant's habitat is destroyed.
- Farming and grazing: Land used for growing crops or for animals to eat grass can harm the plants.
- Weed killers: Chemicals called herbicides, used to kill unwanted plants, can also hurt the redroot yampah.
- New plants: Sometimes, plants from other places, called introduced species, move in. They can take over the space and resources that Perideridia erythrorhiza needs.
- Mining: Digging for metals like nickel can also damage the places where this plant lives.
Is It a Single Species?
Scientists have been studying the different groups of Perideridia erythrorhiza. Some scientists think that one of the three groups of these plants might actually be a completely different species. They are still researching this idea.
