Santolina pincushion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santolina pincushion |
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C. santolinoides
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| Chaenactis santolinoides Greene
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The Chaenactis santolinoides is a cool flowering plant found in California. People often call it the Santolina pincushion because of its unique look. It belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers and dandelions!
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Where the Santolina Pincushion Lives
Finding This Special California Plant
This plant is endemic to California. This means it naturally grows only in California and nowhere else in the world! You can find it in two main mountain ranges: the Transverse Ranges and the southern Sierra Nevada.
Its Mountain Home
The Santolina pincushion loves to grow in high mountain areas. It prefers open, sunny spots with lots of rocks. You might see it on scree (loose, broken rocks on a slope) or rocky hillsides. Its home stretches from Tulare County all the way to northwestern Riverside County. There are also a few small groups of these plants in Mono County.
What the Santolina Pincushion Looks Like
Size and Shape
The Chaenactis santolinoides is a perennial herb. This means it lives for many years. It often grows in clumps or forms a mat close to the ground. It can reach a height of about 25 centimeters (10 inches). That's about the length of a standard ruler!
Stems and Leaves
Its stems stand up straight. When the plant is young, these stems are covered in soft, white, woolly hairs. As the plant gets older, these hairs become thinner. The leaves are several centimeters long. They grow in a tight circle near the base of the plant, forming what looks like a rosette. Each leaf has many tiny parts that are packed together. This makes the leaf look almost like a solid, round stick.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant produces one to three flower heads. These flower heads grow on a tall, straight stalk called a peduncle. Each flower head has special leaves called phyllaries around it. These phyllaries are hairy and have tiny glands. Inside the flower head, you'll find many small white or pink flowers. You can often see their anthers (the part that holds pollen) sticking out. After the flowers bloom, they produce a type of fruit called an achene. This achene has a fluffy top called a pappus, which helps the seeds float away in the wind.
