Chaenactis nevadensis facts for kids

The Chaenactis nevadensis, also known as the Nevada dustymaiden, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family. This plant is found in North America.

Where Does the Nevada Dustymaiden Live?

This special plant grows in the high mountains of eastern California. You can find it in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Its range stretches from Shasta County down to western Inyo County.

A few groups of these plants also live in Washoe County, Nevada. You might also spot them in the southernmost Cascade Range.

The Nevada dustymaiden likes to grow in sandy or gravelly soil. It prefers cool, high-altitude places called subalpine habitats. These are areas just below the tree line.

What Does the Nevada Dustymaiden Look Like?

The Chaenactis nevadensis is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows several short stems that are only a few centimeters tall.

At the bottom of the plant, you'll see a rosette of leaves. These leaves are small and covered in a woolly fuzz. They also have many lobes, meaning they are deeply divided.

The plant's inflorescence (flower cluster) grows on a short stalk called a peduncle. Each flower head is surrounded by stiff, blunt-tipped phyllaries. These are like small, protective leaves.

The flower head has several white or pink flowers. You can see their long anthers sticking out. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit called an achene. This fruit has a pappus made of scales, which helps it spread its seeds.