Cirsium quercetorum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cirsium quercetorum |
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Cirsium
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quercetorum
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The brownie thistle is a special kind of thistle plant. Its scientific name is Cirsium quercetorum. You can only find this plant growing along the coast of California. People also call it the Alameda thistle.
Where the Brownie Thistle Lives
The brownie thistle is a plant that grows only in certain parts of coastal California. It lives in the California Coast Ranges, which are mountains near the ocean. You can find it from Santa Barbara in the south, all the way up to the San Francisco Bay Area. It also grows further north in places like Humboldt County. This plant is quite common in grassy areas near the coast and in open woodlands.
What the Brownie Thistle Looks Like
The brownie thistle is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It often grows in clumps close to the ground. Usually, it's less than 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. But sometimes, it can grow taller, reaching up to 90 centimeters (about 36 inches).
This thistle has leaves that are spiny and have jagged edges. Its flowers grow in spiny heads. The flowers themselves are usually brownish, ivory-tan, white, or purple. They are called disc florets. Unlike some other flowers, the brownie thistle does not have ray florets, which are the petal-like parts you see on daisies.
