Heliograph Peak fleabane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heliograph Peak fleabane |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Erigeron
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Species: |
heliographis
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The Erigeron heliographis is a special kind of flowering plant in the aster family. It's often called the Heliograph Peak fleabane. This plant is very rare and grows only in one specific place: the Pinaleño Mountains in Graham County, Arizona. When a plant or animal is found only in one area, it's called endemic.
What is the Heliograph Peak Fleabane?
The Heliograph Peak fleabane is a type of perennial herb. This means it's a small plant that lives for more than two years, coming back each growing season. It grows from a strong main root called a taproot and a woody base called a caudex.
Plant Features
This small plant usually grows only a few centimeters tall. Its leaves are covered in rough hairs and are shaped like a line (linear) or a spearhead (lance-shaped). They are about 1 to 4 centimeters long.
The plant's flowers grow in a special cluster called a flower head. Each flower head has about 20 to 23 white petals, which are actually tiny flowers called ray florets. These ray florets are usually 5 to 8 millimeters long.
Where Does It Live?
The Heliograph Peak fleabane is found in only two spots within the Pinaleño Mountains of Arizona. It likes to grow in rocky areas within forests. You can find it at high places, from about 8,500 feet up to 10,400 feet above sea level.