Hess' fleabane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hess' fleabane |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erigeron
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| Species: |
hessii
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Erigeron hessii is a special kind of flowering plant. It is part of the aster family, just like sunflowers and daisies! People often call it Hess' fleabane. This plant is very rare. It only grows in two places in New Mexico, United States. Both spots are found in the Mogollon Mountains. You can only find it living in the Gila Wilderness area.
What is Hess' Fleabane?
Hess' fleabane is a plant that comes back every year. It has special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread and grow new shoots. The plant's stems are usually only a few centimeters tall. They are also covered in tiny hairs.
What Does it Look Like?
The leaves of Hess' fleabane are shaped a bit like a spear. They can grow to be about 5 to 7 centimeters long. The plant has pretty flower heads. These are not single flowers but groups of many tiny flowers. Each flower head has special hairy and sticky leaves called phyllaries around it. Inside, you'll find many white or light purple ray florets. Each of these tiny "petals" can be up to 1.3 centimeters long.
Where Does Hess' Fleabane Live?
This unique plant likes to grow in cool, high places. It lives in subalpine forests and grassy areas. You can often find it tucked into cracks in rocky outcrops. There are only two known places where this plant grows. Both are close to Whitewater Baldy in the Mogollon Mountains. Each of these two groups has only a few hundred plants. This makes Hess' fleabane a very rare and important plant to protect!
