Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Tropical grassland

Range

South America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Status

Uncommon

About

This creeping plant blankets the sandy soil of South American grasslands. Its white petals fold shut at night and snap open instantly when touched by morning dew.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Gentianales

Family

Rubiaceae

Genus

Richardia

Species

Richardia grandiflora