Dwarf alpinegold facts for kids

Hulsea nana is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family. People often call it the dwarf alpinegold.

This plant grows naturally in the western United States. You can find it in Washington, Oregon, and the very northern part of California. It likes to grow on rocky slopes, called talus, in volcanic mountains. These areas are often found near the Cascades.

About the Dwarf Alpinegold

The dwarf alpinegold is a small plant. It is a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also an herb, meaning it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree.

Plant Size and Leaves

This plant usually grows in clumps. It has hairy leaves and strong stems. The stems are quite short, usually less than 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall.

The leaves are about 2 to 6 centimeters (0.8 to 2.4 inches) long. They have edges that look like small lobes or bumps. The leaves are also covered in many tiny, sticky hairs. These are called glandular hairs.

The Flowers

Each stem of the dwarf alpinegold usually has one large flower head. This head is very strong and sturdy. It has many layers of hairy or woolly phyllaries. These are like small leaves that protect the flower.

The middle of the flower head is full of bright golden disc florets. These are tiny, tube-shaped flowers. Around the outside, there are golden ray florets. These look like petals. Each ray floret is about one centimeter (0.4 inches) long.