Anacapa Island desert-dandelion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anacapa Island desert-dandelion |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
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| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Tribe: |
Cichorieae
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| Genus: |
Malacothrix
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| Species: |
M. junakii
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| Binomial name | |
| Malacothrix junakii W.S.Davis
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Malacothrix junakii is a very special and rare flowering plant. It's often called the Anacapa Island desert-dandelion or Junak's desertdandelion. This plant belongs to the aster family, which includes many well-known flowers like sunflowers and daisies.
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Meet the Anacapa Island Desert-Dandelion
This unique plant is found only in one place: Anacapa Island. Anacapa Island is one of the Channel Islands of California. Because it lives only there, it is called an endemic species. Scientists first described this plant in 1997.
What Does It Look Like?
The Anacapa Island desert-dandelion is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a stem that branches out and has many leaves. The stem can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall.
Its leaves are shaped like a spear, which is called "lance-shaped." They have edges that are toothed or lobed. The leaves higher up on the stem have fewer and narrower lobes.
Its Flowers
The plant produces several flower heads. These heads grow in open clusters. Each flower head is surrounded by special leaf-like parts called phyllaries. These phyllaries are smooth and have a reddish-green color. Inside the flower heads, you'll find yellow ray florets. Each of these small yellow petals is about one centimeter long.
Why is This Plant So Rare?
Malacothrix junakii is a critically endangered plant. It is known to exist in only two places on Anacapa Island. The biggest threat to this rare species comes from introduced plant species. These are plants that were brought to the island by people, either on purpose or by accident.
These introduced plants can outcompete the native Malacothrix junakii. They might take up space, water, or nutrients that the desert-dandelion needs to survive. This makes it very hard for the rare plant to grow and spread. Protecting its habitat from these invading plants is very important for its survival.
