Butte County western rosinweed facts for kids

Calycadenia oppositifolia is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers! People often call it the Butte County western rosinweed. This plant mostly grows in Butte County, California. You can also find a few groups of them in other parts of California. They like to live in the foothills, which are the lower parts of big mountain ranges.

About the Plant

Calycadenia oppositifolia is an annual herb. This means it's a plant that lives for only one growing season. It grows a straight stem that does not branch out. This stem can reach about 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall. It is also covered in tiny hairs.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this plant are long and thin, like lines. They can grow up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. They are arranged in pairs, directly across from each other on the stem.

The plant's flowers grow in a special group called an inflorescence. This group has small, leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are covered in big, sticky resin glands. These glands make a sticky substance that looks like rosin. The flowers themselves grow in tight bunches of flower heads.

Each flower head is hairy and sticky. In the center, there are several small disc florets. These are the tiny flowers that make up the center of a daisy. Around them are a few white or reddish ray florets. These are the petal-like parts of a daisy. Each ray floret has three small tips, with the middle tip being the shortest.

Seeds

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruits called achenes. These are small, dry fruits that contain a single seed. The achenes that come from the disc florets have a feathery or scaly top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.