Modoc hawksbeard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Modoc hawksbeard |
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| Crepis modocensis in Wenas Wildlife Area | |
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The Modoc hawksbeard (scientific name: Crepis modocensis) is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers! This plant is found in western North America. You can see it growing in places like British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. It also grows in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The Modoc hawksbeard likes to grow in mountain and plateau areas. It can often be found in sagebrush habitats. Its name comes from the Modoc Plateau, which is a high area in northeastern California.
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What the Modoc Hawksbeard Looks Like
The Modoc hawksbeard is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows a straight stem that can be up to 45 centimeters (about 18 inches) tall. The stem often has long, stiff hairs called bristles.
The leaves of the plant can feel woolly. They might also have bristles. You can see dark lines, or veins, on the leaves. Their edges have rounded or sharp bumps. The longest leaves are at the bottom of the plant. They can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant produces groups of flowers called an inflorescence. Each plant can have one to ten flower heads. These flower heads have rough or bristly phyllaries. Phyllaries are like small leaves that protect the flower bud.
Each flower head can have up to 60 yellow ray florets. Ray florets are the petal-like parts you see on a daisy. This plant does not have disc florets, which are the tiny flowers in the center of some daisy-like plants.
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes a fruit. This fruit is called an achene. It is about one centimeter long. The achene is usually black, but sometimes it can be green or have a red tint. It has a fluffy white top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.
Different Types of Modoc Hawksbeard
Scientists have found different types, or subspecies, of the Modoc hawksbeard. These subspecies are slightly different from each other. They often grow in different areas.
- Crepis modocensis subsp. glareosa – Found in Kittitas County in Washington.
- Crepis modocensis subsp. modocensis – This is the most common type. It grows in most of the areas where the plant is found.
- Crepis modocensis subsp. rostrata – Found in British Columbia and Washington.
- Crepis modocensis subsp. subacaulis – Grows in California, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon.
See also
In Spanish: Crepis modocensis para niños
