Carolina woollywhite facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carolina woollywhite
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Hymenopappus
Species:	H. scabiosaeus
Binomial name
Hymenopappus scabiosaeus L'Hér. 1788
Synonyms
Hymenopappus carolinensis (Lam.) Porter Rothia carolinensis Lam. Hymenopappus corymbosus Torr. & A.Gray Rothia corymbosa (Torr. & A.Gray) Kuntze

The Carolina woollywhite (scientific name: Hymenopappus scabiosaeus) is a fascinating flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, which also includes sunflowers and dandelions! This plant is native to North America and has some unique features.

About the Carolina Woollywhite

The Carolina woollywhite is a special plant found mainly in the central and southeastern parts of the United States. It grows in places like the vast Great Plains and the warm Coastal Plain of the Southeast. You can also find smaller groups of these plants in states like Illinois and Indiana. Interestingly, it even grows in the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico.

What it Looks Like

The Carolina woollywhite is a type of plant called a biennial herb. This means it usually lives for two years. In its first year, it grows leaves close to the ground. In its second year, it grows a tall stem and flowers.

This plant can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 150 centimeters (about 5 feet). That's taller than many kids your age! Each stem can produce many flower heads, usually between 20 and 100. Each of these flower heads is packed with smaller flowers. They have about 20 to 80 tiny white disc flowers. Unlike some daisies, the Carolina woollywhite does not have large, showy ray flowers (the "petals" you usually see).

Different Types of Carolina Woollywhite

Just like there are different types of apples, there are also different types, or "varieties," of the Carolina woollywhite. These varieties are slightly different versions of the same plant.

• Hymenopappus scabiosaeus var. corymbosus: This variety is found in states like Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. It also grows in Coahuila, Mexico.
• Hymenopappus scabiosaeus var. scabiosaeus: This variety grows in many southeastern U.S. states. These include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.