Iva axillaris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iva axillaris |
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Iva
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I. axillaris
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| Iva axillaris Pursh 1813
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Iva axillaris, often called povertyweed or death weed, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, which includes many well-known flowers. This plant is native to North America.
You can find Iva axillaris growing in the western and central United States. It also grows in western Canada. Its range stretches from British Columbia down to California. It goes east into the Great Plains, reaching places like the Texas Panhandle, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Manitoba. This plant has also started growing in Australia, where people consider it a weed.
About Povertyweed
Iva axillaris is a plant that grows from the ground. It can reach about 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall. It spreads easily using special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant grow new shoots and spread across an area.
What it Looks Like
This plant has many small leaves. They are shaped like a spearhead, which is called "lance-shaped." These leaves are usually less than 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) long.
The flowers of Iva axillaris are a bit unusual. They grow in the "axils" of the leaves. This means they appear where the leaf meets the main stem. In many other plants, flowers grow in clusters at the very tips of branches. Each flower head on Iva axillaris can have between 9 and 12 tiny flowers, called florets.
How it Reproduces
Iva axillaris is a wind-pollinated plant. This means it relies on the wind to carry its pollen from one plant to another. It does not need insects like bees to help it reproduce. This method allows it to spread its seeds widely.
