Desert sunflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert sunflower |
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| Desert Sunflower (Geraea canescens) | |
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Geraea
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G. canescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Geraea canescens Torr. & Gray
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The Desert Sunflower, also known as desert gold or hairy desert sunflower, is a beautiful yellow flower found in the deserts of North America. It's an annual plant, which means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. Its scientific name, Geraea canescens, comes from a Greek word meaning "old man," because of the white, hairy look of its fruits.
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What is the Desert Sunflower?
This plant looks a lot like a regular sunflower, but it's smaller and lives in the desert. It has bright yellow flowers that grow on thin, hairy stems. These stems can reach about 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) tall. Its leaves are a grayish-green color and can grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long. The Desert Sunflower usually blooms between February and May, but only if there has been enough rain.
Where Does the Desert Sunflower Grow?
You can find the Desert Sunflower in the western parts of North America. It grows naturally in states like Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah. This plant is very good at handling dry conditions, so it thrives in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. It likes sandy desert soil and can be found at elevations from about 130 feet below sea level to 3,700 feet (40 to 1,100 meters) above sea level. Often, it grows near creosote bushes. Sometimes, after a lot of rain, the desert becomes covered in these flowers and many others. This amazing event is called a superbloom.
Who Benefits from the Desert Sunflower?
The bright yellow flowers of the Desert Sunflower are very popular with bees and birds, which help to pollinate them. After the flowers fade, the plant produces seeds. These seeds are an important food source for many desert animals, including birds and small rodents.
Different Kinds of Desert Sunflower
There are two main types, or varieties, of Geraea canescens:
- Geraea canescens var. canescens
- Geraea canescens var. paniculata S.F.Blake
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Geraea canescens in Death Valley
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Closeup of fruits
