Agnorhiza invenusta facts for kids

Agnorhiza invenusta is a type of flowering plant. It is also known by its common names: Coville's mule's ears and rayless mule's ears. Sometimes, it is called Wyethia invenusta, which is a synonym (another scientific name for the same plant).

This plant is special because it grows only in California, USA. You can find it in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Specifically, it lives in areas like Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties.

What Does Coville's Mule's Ears Look Like?

Growing from the Ground

Coville's mule's ears is a perennial herb. This means it is a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows back each year from its roots. It has a thick taproot, which is a main root that grows straight down. It also has a caudex, which is a woody stem base.

Stems and Leaves

The stem of this plant can grow quite tall. It can reach up to one meter (about 3 feet) high. The stem is usually hairy and has small glands on it.

The leaves of the plant are shaped like triangles or ovals. They can be fairly large, growing up to 15 to 20 centimeters (about 6 to 8 inches) long.

Its Flowers and Seeds

Flower Heads

The plant's inflorescence is where its flowers are grouped. It usually has one or more flower heads. A flower head is a cluster of many small flowers that look like one big flower.

Each flower head has special leaf-like parts called phyllaries. These phyllaries are long and narrow, shaped like a spear. They can be more than 3 centimeters (over an inch) long.

Ray Florets and Seeds

Most of the time, this plant does not have ray florets. Ray florets are the petal-like parts you see on flowers like sunflowers or daisies. However, sometimes you might see 2 or 3 of them on Coville's mule's ears.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a type of seed called an achene. It is about a centimeter long. Unlike some other plants, these seeds do not have a pappus. A pappus is a feathery or bristly part that helps seeds fly away in the wind.