Sacramento Mountain fleabane facts for kids

Erigeron rybius is a type of flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the daisy family and is often called Sacramento Mountain fleabane or royal fleabane. This plant grows naturally in western Texas and the south-central part of New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Its common name, Sacramento Mountain fleabane, comes from the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico, which are located just east of Alamogordo.

What is Sacramento Mountain Fleabane?

The Sacramento Mountain fleabane is a plant that loves to grow in grassy fields and areas where the ground has been disturbed, like in coniferous forests. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. This plant can grow up to 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) tall.

How Does it Grow?

Erigeron rybius spreads in a couple of interesting ways. It uses underground stems called rhizomes to grow new plants from below the ground. It also has leafy stems called stolons that run along the surface of the ground, helping it spread out and cover more area.

Its Flowers

Each stem of the Sacramento Mountain fleabane can have between one and six flower heads. These flower heads are like mini-bouquets! Each one has many small flowers grouped together. You'll see 47 to 99 white ray florets (these look like petals) around the outside. In the center, there are many yellow disc florets, which are tiny, tube-shaped flowers.