Pungent brickellbush facts for kids
Brickellia arguta, also known as the pungent brickellbush, is a type of flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the daisy family, which includes many common flowers like sunflowers and dandelions. This plant grows naturally in the hot, dry areas of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. You can find it in parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California.
Quick facts for kids Pungent brickellbush |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Asteroideae
|
| Tribe: |
Eupatorieae
|
| Genus: |
Brickellia
|
| Species: |
B. arguta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brickellia arguta B.L.Rob.
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
About the Pungent Brickellbush
The pungent brickellbush is a shrub that grows with many branches. Its stems can reach a height of 2 to 4 meters (about 6 to 13 feet). These stems are often angled and have tiny glands on them. Glands are like small bumps that can produce sticky substances.
What It Looks Like
The leaves of the pungent brickellbush are rough and feel like leather. They are oval in shape and can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) long. These leaves are often sticky because of the resin glands on them. Resin is a sticky substance that plants sometimes produce.
Its Flowers
The plant's flowers grow in groups called inflorescences. These groups are found at the ends of the stem branches. Each group has a single flower head. Each flower head is about 1.5 centimeters long. It is surrounded by green, pointed leaves called phyllaries.
At the very tip of each flower head, you will find 40 to 55 small, tube-shaped flowers. These are called disc florets. They can be white, pinkish, or yellowish in color.
Its Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a hairy, cylinder-shaped achene. It is about 4 millimeters long. An achene is a type of dry fruit that contains a single seed. The fruit also has a pappus of bristles. A pappus is a feathery or hairy structure that helps the seed fly away in the wind.
Its Desert Home
The pungent brickellbush loves dry, sunny places. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. These deserts are known for their hot temperatures and little rainfall. Despite the harsh conditions, this plant thrives there.
You can find this plant growing naturally in several areas. These include parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona in the United States. It also grows in Baja California, which is a state in Mexico.
