Florida Keys thoroughwort facts for kids

The Florida Keys thoroughwort, also known by its scientific name Koanophyllon villosum, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the sunflower family, which is a very large group of plants. This plant is also sometimes called "abre camino."

You can find the Florida Keys thoroughwort growing in several places. It lives in southern Florida, and also on many islands. These islands include Cuba, the Bahamas, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Islas de la Bahía (which are part of Honduras).

What Does the Florida Keys Thoroughwort Look Like?

The Florida Keys thoroughwort is a shrub. This means it is a woody plant that is smaller than a tree. It can grow up to 200 centimeters (about 80 inches) tall. That's about as tall as a person!

Its Flowers

The flowers of this plant are quite interesting. They are usually pink or white in color. Each flower head can have up to 15 small flowers. These are called "disc flowers." Unlike some other plants in the sunflower family, the Florida Keys thoroughwort does not have "ray flowers." Ray flowers are the petal-like parts you often see on a daisy or a sunflower.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

This plant is native to warm, tropical areas. It thrives in places with a lot of sunshine.

Specific Locations

• Southern Florida: It is found in the southernmost parts of Florida, especially in the Florida Keys.
• The Caribbean: It grows on several islands in the Caribbean Sea. These include Cuba, the Bahamas, Hispaniola (which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Jamaica.
• Central America: You can also find it on the Islas de la Bahía, which are islands off the coast of Honduras.