Yellow pimpernel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yellow pimpernel
Scientific classification
Genus:	Taenidia
Species:	integerrima

The yellow pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima) is a cool plant that belongs to the parsley family. It's an herbaceous plant, which means it has soft, green stems instead of woody ones like trees. This plant grows year after year, making it a perennial. You can find it mostly in the eastern parts of North America.

About the Yellow Pimpernel

The yellow pimpernel is a type of plant that doesn't have a woody stem. Instead, its stems are soft and green. It's known for its bright yellow flowers. This plant is a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. It comes back to grow again each spring.

Where It Lives

This plant is native to the eastern parts of North America. This means it naturally grows there and has been part of the environment for a long time. You can find it in many different places across this region.

The yellow pimpernel likes to grow in certain types of environments. It often lives in rocky prairies. It also grows in woodlands. These are areas with lots of trees. It especially likes places where the soil has a lot of calcium, like limestone.

Helping the Yellow Pimpernel Survive

Sometimes, plants need special help to keep growing in the wild. This is called conservation. The yellow pimpernel is doing well in many places. However, in some states, it needs protection.

Conservation Status in the United States

In the state of Connecticut, the yellow pimpernel is listed as endangered. This means there are very few of these plants left there. They are at risk of disappearing completely.

In Rhode Island, the plant is listed as "historical." This means it used to grow there, but it's not commonly found anymore. It might even be gone from that state.

In Vermont, the yellow pimpernel is listed as threatened. This means it's not yet endangered, but it could become so if we don't protect it. These lists help people know which plants need extra care.

Traditional Uses of the Yellow Pimpernel

For a long time, Native American communities have used plants for many purposes. This study of how people use plants is called ethnobotany. The yellow pimpernel has been important to some groups.

Menominee People's Uses

The Menominee people, a Native American tribe, used the root of the yellow pimpernel. They would make a special tea, called an infusion, from the root. They drank this tea to help with breathing problems. These were often called "pulmonary troubles."

They also chewed the root after it had been soaked in water. This was for "bronchial affections," which are also breathing issues. The Menominee valued the plant for its pleasant smell. They sometimes added it to other plant remedies to make them smell better.

Ojibwe People's Uses

The Ojibwe people, another Native American tribe, had a unique use for the yellow pimpernel. They would smoke the seeds of the plant in a pipe. They did this before going hunting. They believed it would bring them good luck for their hunt.

Gallery

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  An illustration showing detail of the reproductive features