What Are Cushion Plants?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What are cushion plants?

The Big Idea

Cushion plants are tiny alpine plants that grow in round, tight mounds like pillows! They look soft and cozy, and they really are cozy inside. That shape helps them survive up where the wind is fierce.

Tight Mounds

Step one: tight mounds. Cushion plants grow in round, tight mounds, with leaves packed close together. They stay low to the ground, where the wind is weaker. Think of a tiny green pillow on the rocks.

Trapped Warmth

Step two: trapped warmth. The dense leaves block the wind and trap warmth from the Sun. Inside, a cushion can be several degrees warmer than the air.

Long Lives

Step three: slow and steady. Moss campion is one cushion plant, and it can live for hundreds of years. Tiny insects love to rest in the cozy cushions too. A cushion is like a small warm hotel.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The plant forms a round mound like a pillow. Its tiny leaves are packed tight. The mound blocks the wind and holds in warmth. In summer, it covers itself with little flowers.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A cushion can be warmer than the air around it by many degrees. Moss campion can live for hundreds of years. Insects love to rest in the cozy cushions. Moss campion has bright pink flowers.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Crumple a piece of cloth into a tight ball. Hold it in one hand, and hold a flat sheet in the other. Does the ball hold heat better than the flat sheet? That is how a cushion works!

Outro

Cushion plants hide from the wind in cozy mounds. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!