Parry's arnica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parry's arnica |
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| Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington | |
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| Genus: |
Arnica
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| Species: |
parryi
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Arnica parryi is a special plant found in North America. People often call it Parry's arnica or nodding arnica. This plant grows naturally in western Canada, including places like Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta. You can also find it in the western United States, reaching as far south as Inyo County, California, and McKinley County, New Mexico. It loves to grow in cool, mountainous areas, especially in temperate coniferous forests and open, grassy alpine meadows. These areas include famous mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada.
What is Parry's Arnica?
Parry's arnica is a type of plant that lives for many years. It grows from underground stems, which are called rhizomes. This means the plant can spread and come back year after year. It usually grows a single stem that does not branch out. This stem can reach heights between 10 and 60 centimeters, which is about 4 to 24 inches tall.
Its Leaves
The plant has different kinds of leaves. Around the bottom of the stem, you'll find oval-shaped leaves. Higher up on the stem, there are a few pairs of leaves that are longer and narrower. These upper leaves have small stalks, called petioles, that connect them to the main stem. On bigger plants, these leaves can grow quite long, sometimes up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches).
Its Flowers and Seeds
The top of the stem holds one or more flower clusters. These clusters look a lot like daisies. When they are still buds, the flower heads often nod downwards, as if they are sleepy. But when the flowers are ready to open, they stand up straight! Each flower head has a center filled with many small, yellow disc florets. Around the edges, there are usually several yellow ray florets, which look like petals.
After the flowers bloom, they produce fruit. The fruit is a small, cylinder-shaped seed called an achene. It's about half a centimeter long. Each achene has a bristly top, which is called a pappus. This bristly part helps the seeds fly away in the wind, spreading the plant to new places.
