Foothill arnica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foothill arnica |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Arnica
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| Species: |
fulgens
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Arnica fulgens is a type of arnica plant. People often call it foothill arnica or hillside arnica. This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from British Columbia in Canada, east to Saskatchewan, and south into California and New Mexico in the United States. It likes to grow in open, grassy areas.
What Does Foothill Arnica Look Like?
Arnica fulgens is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from a short, strong underground stem called a rhizome. This plant usually has one or more stems that grow above the ground. These stems can be 10 to 60 centimeters (about 4 to 24 inches) tall. They are often hairy and a bit sticky.
Leaves and Stems
Most of the leaves of the foothill arnica grow near the bottom of the plant. They are shaped like wide spear tips or ovals. These leaves can be up to 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. You might see small tufts of fuzzy fibers where the leaves meet the stem. Sometimes, there are a few much smaller leaves higher up on the stem.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant usually has one, but sometimes two or three, daisy-like flower heads. These heads are surrounded by hairy leaf-like parts called phyllaries. Each flower head has a center filled with sticky, golden disc florets. Around these, there are golden ray florets, which look like petals. These ray florets are about 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. This fruit is a small, hairy seed called an achene. It is about half a centimeter long. The seed also has a light-colored, feathery top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.
