Star cudweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Star cudweed |
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| A Euchiton sphaericus plant | |
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Euchiton
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E. sphaericus
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| Euchiton sphaericus (Willd.) Holub 1991
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Euchiton sphaericus is a type of herb. People often call it star cudweed or tropical creeping cudweed. This plant naturally grows in places like Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Taiwan, Java, and the Philippines. It has also started growing in some parts of the United States, including Hawaii, California, and Oregon.
What Does Star Cudweed Look Like?
Star cudweed is an upright plant that grows every year. It can reach up to 80 centimeters (about 32 inches) tall. The plant has a main root that grows straight down, called a taproot.
Its stems are covered with soft, white, woolly hairs. The leaves are green and smooth on top. But underneath, they are white and also feel woolly. This plant makes round groups of small flowers. These flower clusters can be yellow, cream, or brown.
How Did Star Cudweed Get Its Name?
The star cudweed has had a few different names over time! In 1809, a scientist named Carl Ludwig Willdenow first described it. He gave it the name Gnaphalium sphaericum.
Later, in 1838, another scientist, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, thought it was a type of Gnaphalium involucratum. But this idea did not stick. Finally, in 1974, Josef Holub moved the plant into the group we know today, called Euchiton.
Where Does Star Cudweed Grow?
Star cudweed is very common in Australia. You can find it in all six Australian states. It also grows in the Northern Territory and on Norfolk Island. Besides Australia, it lives in other warm places around the world, as mentioned earlier.
