Serpentine tarweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Serpentine tarweed |
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H. doris-nilesiae
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| Harmonia doris-nilesiae (T.W. Nelson & J.P. Nelson) B.G. Baldw.
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Madia doris-nilesiae T.W. Nelson & J.P. Nelson |
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The Harmonia doris-nilesiae is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the aster family, which includes sunflowers and daisies! People often call it serpentine tarweed or Niles' madia.
Scientists first officially described this plant in 1985. They named it Madia doris-nilesiae to honor Doris Niles, a botanist and teacher from California. Later, in 1999, this plant and a few others were moved into a new group called the Harmonia genus.
What Does Serpentine Tarweed Look Like?
The Harmonia doris-nilesiae is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It can grow up to about 26 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall. Its upper branches feel bristly and have tiny glands.
Its leaves are also bristly and have small teeth along their edges. They can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant has several flower heads. These heads grow on long, thin stems called peduncles. Each flower head has bright yellow parts:
- Disc florets: These are tiny flowers in the center, tipped with yellow anthers (the part that holds pollen).
- Ray florets: These are like the "petals" you see on a daisy. There are usually 4 to 8 of them, and each is a few millimeters long.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a black achene. This is a type of dry fruit that contains a single seed. The achene has a small, feathery top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seed float away in the wind, spreading the plant to new places!
Where Does Serpentine Tarweed Grow?
The Harmonia doris-nilesiae is an endemic plant. This means it only grows naturally in one specific area of the world. For this plant, that area is the southern Klamath Mountains in far northern California.
It has a very particular taste in soil! It grows only in serpentine soils. Serpentine soils are unique because they have high levels of certain minerals and low levels of others. Not many plants can grow in these conditions, which makes the serpentine tarweed even more special!
