Mountain daisy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain daisy |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ixodia (plant)
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| Species: |
achillaeoides
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The Ixodia achillaeoides, often called the mountain daisy, is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes many types of daisies. You can find this plant growing in South Australia and Victoria. It's a small shrub with branches that feel a bit sticky and smooth. In spring and summer, it shows off small white flowers.
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What the Mountain Daisy Looks Like
The mountain daisy is a small shrub that usually grows between 10 and 200 centimeters tall. Its stems are smooth, a little sticky, and have many branches.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the mountain daisy can be different shapes, from long and thin to more egg-shaped. They are usually sticky and measure between 5 and 100 millimeters long. The top side of the leaves is dark green, while the underside is paler. You can also see a clear vein running down the middle.
The flowers grow in a special cluster at the end of the stems. This cluster looks like an urn or an oval and holds about 3 to 80 white flowers. Each flower has a bright yellow center. Individual flowers are small, about 3 to 9 millimeters long and 1 to 8 millimeters wide. They either sit directly on the stem or have a very short stalk.
Fruit and Flowering Time
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small fruit called a cypsela. This fruit is about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long and is covered with soft hairs. The mountain daisy mostly blooms during the spring and summer months.
How the Mountain Daisy Got Its Name
The Ixodia achillaeoides was first officially described in 1812 by a botanist named Robert Brown. He wrote about it in a book called Hortus Kewensis.
The second part of its scientific name, achillaeoides, is a clue to what it looks like. It means that its flower clusters are similar to those of plants in the Achillea group, which are also known as yarrows.
Where the Mountain Daisy Lives
This plant grows in different places across Victoria. It is much more common and widespread in South Australia. You can find the mountain daisy living in woodlands, scrublands, and forests.
