Chaenactis fremontii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chaenactis fremontii |
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C. fremontii
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| Chaenactis fremontii |
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Chaenactis fremontii, also known as Frémont's pincushion or desert pincushion, is a type of wild flower. It grows every year, meaning it completes its life cycle in one season. This plant belongs to the daisy family, which includes many common flowers like sunflowers and dandelions.
The plant gets its name, Frémont's pincushion, from John C. Frémont. He was an American explorer and soldier who traveled a lot in the western United States.
Where Does Frémont's Pincushion Grow?
Frémont's pincushion is found naturally in the Southwestern United States and the northern part of Baja California in Mexico. It likes to grow in sandy or rocky soils. You can often spot it in deserts and low mountain areas.
Some of the places it calls home include the Mojave Desert in California and parts of the Sonoran Desert. You can find this plant in the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, and southern Utah. It also grows in Baja California.
What Does Frémont's Pincushion Look Like?
This wild flower grows in groups, with many long stems. These stems can reach up to about 16 inches (40 centimeters) tall. When they are new, the stems are green. As they get older, they often turn a reddish color.
The stems might branch out, creating many tall, mostly bare stalks. The leaves are not very many and are a bit thick. They are long and pointed. At the top of each straight stem, you will find one or sometimes more flower heads.
Each flower head looks like a pincushion because it has many tiny, tightly packed flowers called disc florets. These small flowers are usually white or a very light pink. Sometimes, there are also larger petal-like flowers, called ray florets, around the edge of the flower head.
