Gray-seeded fleabane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gray-seeded fleabane |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erigeron
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| Species: |
poliospermus
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Erigeron poliospermus, also known as gray-seeded fleabane or purple cushion fleabane, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, just like the daisies you might see in a field!
This plant is originally from western North America. You can mostly find it growing east of the Cascade Range mountains. It lives in places like Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It loves dry, open areas like deserts, scrublands, and rocky spots. It usually grows below 6,000 feet (about 1,800 meters) in elevation, but sometimes you can spot it even higher up.
Meet the Gray-Seeded Fleabane
The gray-seeded fleabane is a small plant. It's a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem like a tree. It usually grows to be less than 6 inches (15 centimeters) tall. This little plant has a strong, woody taproot that helps it find water deep in the ground.
Flowers and Appearance
Each stem of the gray-seeded fleabane usually has only one to three flower heads. A flower head isn't just one flower; it's a cluster of many tiny flowers grouped together.
Each flower head is very pretty! It has 15 to 45 colorful "petals" around the edge. These are called ray florets, and they can be pink, purple, or white. In the middle of the flower head, there are many tiny yellow flowers called disc florets. One special type of this plant, called var. disciformis, doesn't have these colorful ray florets at all!
The flower heads are also protected by small leaf-like parts called involucre bracts. These bracts are about 5 to 9 millimeters long. They are usually covered with soft, white hairs, making them look a bit fuzzy.
Types of Gray-Seeded Fleabane
There are a few different types, or varieties, of Erigeron poliospermus. These varieties are slightly different from each other, often in where they grow or how their flowers look.
- Erigeron poliospermus var. cereus - This variety is found in Washington.
- Erigeron poliospermus var. disciformis - This type grows in Washington and Oregon. Remember, this is the one without the colorful ray florets!
- Erigeron poliospermus var. poliospermus - This is the most common type. You can find it in British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
