Hackelia venusta

Hackelia venusta Facts

• The lovely Hackelia venusta constitutes an extremely rare species of flowering plant. Showy Stickseed serves as its common name.
• This amazing plant also officially lists as an Endangered Species. In fact, only about 770 individual plants presently remain in existence.
• The primary threats to its existence appear to be habitat loss and its already scant numbers – as is the case with many other species.
• Further, a single disaster such as severe weather or wildfire could potentially eradicate the entire species. We sure hope this never happens.
• Despite all these facts, the plant does not yet have a listing on the IUCN Red List.

Hackelia venusta Physical Description

The rather amazing Hackelia venusta evolved as a perennial herb. Each taproot produces several leafy stems, that may be as much as 16 in (40 cm) in height.

It also blooms between April and May when it produces large clusters of small flowers roughly 0.8 in (2 cm) across. These typically present as either bluish or white in color.

The fruit presents as a rather small nut covered in short, stiff, hair-like structures. Interestingly, these cling tightly to any passing animal, allowing for dispersal of seeds. How convenient.

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiosperms

Class: Eudicots

Order: Boraginales

Family: Boraginaceae

Genus: Hackelia

Species: H. venusta

Hackelia venusta Distribution and Habitat

The beautiful Hackelia venusta grows in areas of rock ledges and open talus. Its native soil is rocky and sandy, with relatively poor nutrient levels.

The species also requires copious amounts of direct sunlight to thrive and does not tolerate shade.

Only one known population of the Hackelia venusta currently exists. It only exists within Tumwater Canyon in Chelan County, Washington State, United States, in North America.

This remote location also forms part of the protected Wenatchee National Forest. Also, the entire habitat range of this rare species comprises only an estimated 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and lies just 330 ft (100 m) from a major highway passing through the National Forest.

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