Soft arnica facts for kids
Arnica mollis is a type of wild flower found in North America. It's also known as soft arnica or hairy arnica. This plant belongs to the sunflower family, which includes many well-known flowers.
Quick facts for kids Soft arnica |
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| Arnica mollis in Henry M. Jackson Wilderness | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Arnica
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| Species: |
mollis
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About Soft Arnica
Arnica mollis is a special plant that comes back year after year. It's a type of herb (a plant with soft stems, not woody ones). The name "mollis" means "soft" in Latin. This refers to the soft hairs you can find on its leaves.
Where Soft Arnica Lives
This plant grows naturally across a wide area in North America. You can find it in Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and even the cold Arctic regions. In the United States, it grows in Alaska and the western mountains. Its range goes as far south as California and New Mexico. There are also some groups of these plants in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Arnica mollis likes to live in mountain areas. It prefers what we call "subalpine" habitats. This means places high up in the mountains, but below the tree line. You can often spot it in sunny meadows or along the banks of mountain streams.
What Soft Arnica Looks Like
The soft arnica plant usually grows one or more stems. These stems are a bit hairy and sticky, reaching about 20 to 60 centimeters (8 to 24 inches) tall. They don't have many leaves, mostly on the lower half. The leaves are shaped like long ovals and can be 4 to 20 centimeters (1.5 to 8 inches) long.
At the top of the stem, you'll find one or a few flowers. These flowers look a lot like small daisies. They have a bright yellow center made of many tiny flowers called disc florets. Around the edge, they have yellow petals, which are actually other tiny flowers called ray florets. After the flower blooms, it produces small fruits. These fruits are called achenes and have a brownish, feathery top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.
