Pebble pincushion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chaenactis carphoclinia |
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| Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia in Death Valley, California | |
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C. carphoclinia
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| Chaenactis carphoclinia |
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The Chaenactis carphoclinia, also known as the pebble pincushion, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, which includes many common flowers like sunflowers. This plant grows naturally in the southwestern parts of the United States and northwestern Mexico. You can often find it in places with lots of rocks and gravel, like the deserts of California. It grows in states such as southern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico. It also grows in Baja California and Sonora in Mexico.
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What Does the Pebble Pincushion Look Like?
The pebble pincushion is an annual herb. This means it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. It grows a straight, branching stem that can reach about 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The longest leaves on the plant are about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. They are usually divided into a few smaller sections or lobes.
The plant produces several flower heads. Each head is about one centimeter wide. These heads are surrounded by flat, sharp-pointed structures called phyllaries, which are often reddish. Inside each flower head, you'll find several small white or pink-tinted flowers. These flowers have long parts called anthers that stick out.
Seeds and Reproduction
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a type of fruit called an achene. This is a small, dry fruit that contains a single seed. The achene is only a few millimeters long. It has a scaly top part called a pappus. The pappus helps the seed to spread, often by wind, allowing new plants to grow.
Different Types of Pebble Pincushion
There are two main types, or varieties, of Chaenactis carphoclinia:
- C. c. var. carphoclinia: This variety is smaller. It can be found throughout all the areas where the pebble pincushion grows.
- C. c. var. piersonii: This variety is larger. It is only found in the Santa Rosa Mountains in southern California.
Images for kids
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Small plant of C. carphoclinia, in 2016 Death Valley superbloom
