Brightwhite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brightwhite |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prenanthella
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| Species: |
exigua
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| Synonyms | |
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Lygodesmia exigua |
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Prenanthella exigua is a small flowering plant. It is often called brightwhite because of its pretty white or pale pink flowers. This plant belongs to the daisy family, which is a very large group of plants. It's the only species in its special group, called Prenanthella.
Contents
What is Brightwhite?
The brightwhite plant is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has a thin, branching stem that can grow up to about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall.
Plant Features
The stem of the brightwhite plant has a few tiny, sticky hairs. If you break the stem, you might see a milky liquid inside. Most of its leaves grow near the bottom of the plant. These leaves are shaped like a spear and sometimes have jagged edges.
Higher up on the stem, the leaves are much smaller. They can even look like tiny scales, making the upper part of the stem seem almost bare.
Flowers and Seeds
The brightwhite plant produces many small flower heads. These heads are arranged in a wide, open cluster called a panicle. Each flower head is narrow and shaped like a cylinder.
Flower Details
The base of each flower head is wrapped in small, spear-shaped leaves called phyllaries. At the very tip of each head, you'll find 3 or 4 tiny flowers. These are called ray florets, and they are usually white or pale pink. Each floret has a slightly toothed tip. Unlike some other daisy family plants, the brightwhite plant does not have disc florets in its flower heads.
Fruit and Spreading Seeds
After the flowers bloom, they produce small, white fruits. These fruits are called achenes. Each achene has a fluffy top made of white bristles. This fluffy part is called a pappus. The pappus helps the seeds float away on the wind, spreading them to new places.
Where Brightwhite Lives
This plant is native to the southwestern United States. You can find it growing naturally in several states.
Native Range
It prefers to grow in dry areas. Its favorite places include deserts and woodlands.
See also
In Spanish: Prenanthella para niños
