Gilman's ericameria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gilman's ericameria |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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Astereae
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| Genus: |
Ericameria
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| Species: |
E. gilmanii
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| Binomial name | |
| Ericameria gilmanii (S.F.Blake) G.L.Nesom
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| Synonyms | |
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Ericameria gilmanii is a special and rare flowering plant from North America. People call it by many names, like Gilman's goldenbush or whiteflower goldenbush. It belongs to the aster family, which includes daisies and sunflowers. This plant is endemic to California, meaning it only grows naturally in that state. You can find it in and around the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, especially in Inyo County and Kern County.
This plant is quite mysterious because scientists don't know much about it. There are only six places where it's known to grow, and only one of those has been seen in the last 20 years! This makes it a very important plant to protect.
What It Looks Like
Ericameria gilmanii is a small shrub that can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. That's about the height of a large houseplant! Its leaves have a nice smell.
The leaves are small, about 1.2 centimeters (half an inch) long, and they curve backward. They feel a bit sticky because they have tiny glands that produce resin.
The plant usually has one main flower head, but sometimes it has more. A flower head is like a cluster of many small flowers that look like one big flower. The base of the flower head is shaped like a bell. It has special leaf-like parts called phyllaries that curve outwards and are green to tan.
The flower head has a few white ray florets around the edge. These are the parts that look like petals. In the center, it has many white disc florets, which are tiny tube-shaped flowers. After the flowers bloom, they produce a small, hairy fruit called an achene. This fruit is about a centimeter long and has a fluffy top called a pappus, which helps it float in the wind.
Where It Lives
Ericameria gilmanii grows in forests. The one population that scientists have seen recently is on land managed by the United States Forest Service. Other places where this plant is thought to still exist are also on federal land. This means these areas are protected by the government, which is good for this rare plant.
