Chaetadelpha facts for kids

Chaetadelpha is a group of plants in the dandelion family. It has only one type of plant, called Chaetadelpha wheeleri. You might also hear it called Wheeler's skeletonweed. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows like a small bush.

This plant is native to the western United States. You can find it in states like Nevada, eastern California, and southeastern Oregon.

What Does Wheeler's Skeletonweed Look Like?

Wheeler's skeletonweed grows as a low bush. It has many stems that stand up straight. These stems are covered with very narrow, long, and pointed leaves.

Its Unique Flowers

Smaller branches grow from the main stems. Each of these small branches has a flower. The flower starts as a cylinder shape. Then, it opens up at the end into a star shape.

The flowers are usually white or a light purple color. They have five ray florets, which look like petals. The middle of each flower is full of curly parts called anthers. These anthers are covered in pollen.

Where Does Wheeler's Skeletonweed Grow?

You can often find Chaetadelpha wheeleri growing in sandy areas. It also likes places with scrub plants. It is especially common in desert regions. This plant is well-suited to dry, sandy environments.