Bighead dustymaiden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bighead dustymaiden |
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C. macrantha
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| Chaenactis macrantha D.C.Eaton
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Chaenactis macrantha is a type of flowering plant. It's also known by its common names, bighead dustymaiden or Mojave pincushion. This plant belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers and dandelions!
About the Bighead Dustymaiden
The bighead dustymaiden is a plant that lives for only one year. It usually grows to be about 30 to 35 centimeters (12 to 14 inches) tall. It has one or more stems that branch out.
Where It Grows
This plant is native to the Great Basin and the southwestern deserts of the United States. You can find it in states like California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, southwestern Idaho, and southeastern Oregon. It likes to grow in dry, open areas. It prefers rocky or sandy soil, which can sometimes be calcareous (rich in lime) or alkaline (salty).
What It Looks Like
The leaves of the bighead dustymaiden are a few centimeters long. They are divided into many small parts, almost like tiny fingers.
The plant produces one or more flower heads. These flower heads grow on long stems called peduncles. Each flower head is surrounded by fuzzy leaves called phyllaries. These phyllaries have tips that curve backward.
Inside the head, there are many small flowers. These flowers are usually white or have a light pink tint. They are special because they open up at night! After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small fruit. This fruit is called an achene, and it's about a centimeter long. It has a feathery top called a pappus.
