Yukon sandwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yukon sandwort |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Minuartia
|
| Species: |
yukonensis
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Lidia yukonensis (Hultén) Á. Löve & D. Löve |
|
The Yukon sandwort or Yukon stitchwort (scientific name: Minuartia yukonensis) is a special type of plant. It is found in the cold, northern parts of the world. This plant grows in places like Yukon and the Northwest Territories in Canada. You can also find it in Alaska and the Russian Far East. Some people also believe it grows in British Columbia.
About the Yukon Sandwort
The Yukon sandwort is a plant that lives for many years. We call plants that live for more than two years "perennial herbs." This means it doesn't die after one growing season. It comes back year after year.
Where It Grows
This tough little plant likes dry, rocky places. It often grows in meadows where the ground is not too wet. You can usually find it at elevations less than 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet). This means it grows in areas that are not extremely high up in the mountains.
What It Looks Like
The Yukon sandwort has a big, strong main root called a "taproot." This taproot helps the plant get water and nutrients from deep in the soil. The plant spreads out low to the ground, forming flat, mat-like shapes.
Its stems can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. The leaves are very thin and narrow, like tiny lines. They can be up to 18 millimeters long, but they are usually less than 1.5 millimeters wide.
Its Flowers
The flowers of the Yukon sandwort grow in groups. These groups are called "cymes," which is a type of flower cluster. Each plant can have up to 13 flowers in one cluster. The flowers are shaped like small cups and can be green or have a purplish color.
