Daisy desertstar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daisy desertstar |
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Astereae
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M. bellidiforme
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| Monoptilon bellidiforme Torr. & A.Gray ex A.Gray
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The Daisy Desertstar (scientific name: Monoptilon bellidiforme) is a small flowering plant. It is also known as the small desert star. This plant belongs to the aster family, which includes daisies and sunflowers.
Contents
Discovering the Daisy Desertstar
The Daisy Desertstar is a unique plant found in the desert areas of the United States. It is a fascinating example of how life adapts to tough environments.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant is native to the desert southwest of the United States. It loves dry, sandy places. You can often find it in sandy flats or in dry riverbeds called washes. These are typical spots for desert plants.
What Does It Look Like?
The Daisy Desertstar is usually quite small. Its stem is only a few centimeters long. Sometimes, it's so small that its flowers seem to sit right on the ground! Its leaves are also tiny, less than a centimeter long.
It looks a bit like another plant called M. bellioides. However, the Daisy Desertstar is generally smaller.
Its Flowers and Seeds
The plant has a special kind of flower head. This head has many small petals, called ray florets. These petals are usually white. Sometimes, they can have a hint of purple. Each petal is about 5 to 7 millimeters long.
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is called an achene. It's about half a centimeter long. The achene has a special part called a pappus. The pappus is like a long bristle surrounded by tiny scales. This helps the seeds to spread.
