Desert cudweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert cudweed |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Order: | |
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| Tribe: |
Gnaphalieae
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| Genus: |
Gamochaeta
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| Species: |
G. stagnalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Gamochaeta stagnalis (I.M.Johnst.) Anderb. 1991
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| Synonyms | |
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Synonymy
Gnaphalium stagnale I.M. Johnst. 1923
Gamochaeta stagnale Anderb. Gamochaeta falcata (Lam.) Cabrera Gnaphalium falcatum Lam. Gnaphalium heteroides Klatt Gnaphalium purpureum var. falcatum (Lam.) Torr. & A.Gray Gnaphalium stachydifolium var. falcatum (Lam.) Klatt |
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Gamochaeta stagnalis, also known as the Desert cudweed, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the sunflower family, which includes many well-known plants like daisies and sunflowers!
This plant is found naturally in Mexico, Guatemala, and the southwestern parts of the United States. You can spot it in places like California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
About Desert Cudweed
What Desert Cudweed Looks Like
The Desert cudweed is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It can grow up to about 35 cm (14 in) tall.
This plant has a thin main root that grows straight down, called a taproot. Its leaves are small, growing up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long.
Its Unique Flowers
The Desert cudweed produces many small flower heads. These flower heads grow in groups that are packed very closely together. Each tiny head has only 3 or 4 purple disc flowers. Unlike some other flowers in the sunflower family, it does not have any ray flowers. Ray flowers are the petal-like parts you see on a daisy or sunflower.
Similar Plants
Gamochaeta stagnalis looks very much like another plant called Gamochaeta purpureum. Because they are so similar, some Desert cudweed plants, especially those found in Arizona, have sometimes been mistaken for G. purpureum. Scientists need to look very closely to tell them apart!
