Arctomecon humilis
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Arctomecon humilis |
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Arctomecon humilis is a species ofthe poppy family (Papaveraceae). In spring it produces an ivory-colored, quickly withering flower. The plant grows exclusively in Utah, USA, and is considered one of the most endangered species in the USA.
description
Arctomecon humilis is a short-lived perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 15 to 25 cm. It forms a taproot .
The leaves stand together in a basal rosette. The leaves are blue-green and densely covered with long, white hairs. Each of the stems bears one or two ivory-colored flowers. The fruits contain 30 or more small black seeds.
Arctomecon humilis is an endangered plant that grows in barren and gypsum-rich soils near the city of St. George , Utah. Only about half a dozen populations are known. Some are in the immediate vicinity of human settlement. The species is fertilized by a very rare type of bee, the Perdita mecontis .
literature
- Buchmann, Stephen L; Nabhan, Gary Paul; Wilson, Edward Osborne; Mirocha, Paul: The forgotten pollinators . Covelo: Island Press , Washington 1996, ISBN 1-55963-353-0 (pbk), pp. 15-18.
