Chaenactis artemisiifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chaenactis artemisiifolia |
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C. artemisiifolia
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Chaenactis artemisiifolia, also known as the white pincushion, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers and dandelions! You can find this plant growing naturally in the sunny coastal areas of Southern California and Baja California. It loves to live in places called chaparral and woodlands, which are like bushy, open forests.
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What Does the White Pincushion Look Like?
The white pincushion plant is an annual herb, which means it grows, flowers, and dies within one year. It's quite strong and can grow a straight stem that sometimes reaches up to 2 meters (about 6 feet) tall. But usually, it's shorter, around 1 meter (3 feet) or less.
Leaves and Stem
At the bottom of the plant, the leaves grow in a circle, like a rosette. There are also a few leaves along the stem. These leaves can be pretty long, sometimes 15 centimeters (6 inches) or more. They are divided into many small, delicate parts, making them look lacy. Both the leaves and the stem have a soft, woolly feel because they are covered in fine hairs. Older plants might have fewer hairs.
Flowers and How They Grow
The main stem of the plant branches out about halfway up. Each branch holds several flower heads grouped together in a wide, open cluster called an inflorescence. Each flower head sits in a cup-shaped base. This base is covered in hairy, sharp-tipped parts called phyllaries, which can be up to 1 centimeter long.
The flower heads are mostly round and contain only disc florets. These are the small, tube-shaped flowers you see in the center of a daisy. Even though they are disc florets, some of them are flat enough to look like ray florets (the "petals" of a daisy). The florets are usually white, but they can sometimes have a pinkish color.
Why Is It Called a Pincushion?
The most interesting part is how the flower heads get their common name! The anthers (which hold pollen) and the curly styles (part of the female reproductive organ) stick out far from each tiny floret. This makes the whole flower head look spiky and round, just like a pincushion used for sewing!
Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small fruits called achenes. These are like tiny, flattened seeds, about half a centimeter long. Unlike some other daisy family plants, these seeds don't have a fluffy pappus (like the "parachute" on a dandelion seed) to help them fly away in the wind.
