Stemless dwarf cudweed facts for kids

Hesperevax acaulis is a small flowering plant. It is often called the stemless dwarf cudweed. This plant belongs to the aster family, which includes many well-known flowers like daisies and sunflowers.

This interesting plant grows naturally in parts of California and Oregon. It can be found in many different places, from mountains to valleys and even along the coast. It can even grow in areas that have recently had a wildfire.

What is the Stemless Dwarf Cudweed?

The stemless dwarf cudweed is a small plant that grows for only one year. This means it completes its whole life cycle in a single growing season. It often forms a small, woolly bunch right on the ground.

How Does It Look?

Even though its name says "stemless," this plant sometimes has a small stem. This stem can be a few centimeters long. Its leaves are covered in a soft, woolly fuzz. They grow in pairs or in small groups. Each leaf is quite tiny, measuring from a few millimeters to about three centimeters long.

Its Unique Flowers

In the middle of the plant's leaves, you'll find its flowers. This part is called the inflorescence. It might be a single "flower head" or a group of several flower heads packed closely together. Each of these heads is very small, only a few millimeters wide.

What looks like one flower head is actually many tiny flowers. These are called "disc florets." They are very small and are packed together to form what looks like a single bloom.

Where Does It Grow?

The stemless dwarf cudweed is native to the western United States. It thrives in various environments. You can find it in the dry, rocky soils of mountains. It also grows in the open spaces of valleys. Along the coast, it can be found in sandy or disturbed areas.

This plant is quite tough. It can even grow in places that have recently been burned by wildfires. This shows how well it can adapt to different conditions.