Grassland silverpuffs facts for kids

Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa is a cool flowering plant. It is also known as grassland silverpuffs. This plant belongs to the aster family. This family includes many well-known flowers like daisies and sunflowers.

Where It Lives

This plant grows naturally in southwestern North America. You can find it in many parts of California. It also lives in some areas of Arizona and northern Mexico.

It likes to grow in open spaces. These include chaparral areas, woodlands, and grasslands. You might also see it in deserts and canyons. It even grows in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

What It Looks Like

Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa can look a bit different from one plant to another. But generally, it is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle in one year.

It has a group of large leaves at its base. This group is called a basal rosette. A tall stem, called a peduncle, grows from the plant. This stem holds a single flower head.

Flower Details

The flower head has many ray florets. There are often more than 100 of these small flowers. They can be yellow or white. The head is surrounded by smooth, hairless phyllaries. These are like small leaves that protect the flower.

Seeds and Fruit

The fruit of this plant is called an achene. It has a body that can be brown, gray, blue, or purple. At the top of the achene is a special structure. This is called a pappus. It has five long, spreading scales. The whole fruit is about 1 or 2 centimeters long.

A Special Hybrid

Scientists think Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa might be a hybrid plant. This means it could be a mix of two other species. These are thought to be Microseris douglasii and Uropappus lindleyi.

It's possible this hybrid plant developed on its own more than once. This could explain why it looks so different sometimes. Its height and flower features can vary a lot. They often show traits from both of its suspected parent plants.