Rayless mock goldenrod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rayless mock goldenrod |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Order: | |
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| Subfamily: |
Asteroideae
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| Tribe: |
Astereae
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| Genus: |
Brintonia
Greene
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| Species: |
B. discoidea
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| Binomial name | |
| Brintonia discoidea (Elliott) Greene
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| Synonyms | |
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Brintonia is a special group of flowering plants. It has only one type of plant in it. This plant is called Brintonia discoidea. It belongs to the sunflower family. People often call it the rayless mock goldenrod. It got its name from a person named Jeremiah Bernard Brinton. You can find this plant growing in the southeastern parts of the United States. It grows in states like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Contents
What Does Brintonia discoidea Look Like?
Brintonia discoidea is a plant that lives for many years. It can grow quite tall, up to about 1.5 meters (which is almost 5 feet). It grows from a thick underground stem called a rhizome.
Stems and Leaves
The main stem of the plant stands straight up. It usually does not have branches. The stem has a few soft hairs on it. Its leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. This means they are not directly across from each other. The leaves can be up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. They have rough hairs and edges that look like tiny saw teeth. These leaves are attached to the stem by special stalks called petioles.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant produces many flower heads that grow in a wide cluster. Each flower head is made up of many small flowers called disc florets. There can be up to 20 of these tiny flowers in one head. They have bright green tubes and petals that are whitish or pinkish. The parts that hold pollen, called anthers, are usually pinkish.
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes fruits. These fruits are ribbed and have a fluffy top called a pappus. The pappus is made of many white or purple-tipped bristles. These bristles help the seeds fly away in the wind.
Where Does Brintonia discoidea Grow?
This plant likes to grow in sandy, swampy areas. You can often find it in the Gulf Coastal Plain. This is a flat area along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
Why Is This Plant Special?
Sometimes, people used to think Brintonia discoidea was a type of goldenrod plant. Goldenrods are very common. However, scientists have studied the plant's DNA (its genetic material). They have also looked closely at its shape and structure. This research shows that Brintonia discoidea is different enough to be in its own special group, separate from the goldenrods.
See also
In Spanish: Brintonia para niños
