Oregon false goldenaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oregon false goldenaster |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Tribe: |
Astereae
|
| Genus: |
Heterotheca
|
| Species: |
H. oregona
|
| Binomial name | |
| Heterotheca oregona (Nutt.) Shinners 1951
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Heterotheca oregona, also called the Oregon false goldenaster, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers! This plant grows naturally along the west coast of North America. You can find it in British Columbia in Canada, and in the US states of Washington, Oregon, and California. It grows as far south as Los Angeles County.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Oregon false goldenaster is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It can look a bit different depending on where it grows. The plant can be anywhere from 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) to one meter (about 40 inches) tall. Its stems and leaves are covered in tiny, stiff hairs or bristles.
You'll often find Heterotheca oregona in low mountain forests. It also likes chaparral areas, which are dry shrublands. It often grows near water sources.
Its Flowers
The plant has groups of flower heads at the top. There can be anywhere from 1 to 15 flower heads in a flat cluster. Each flower head has 14 to 60 small, yellowish disc florets. These are the tiny flowers in the center of a daisy-like head. Unlike some daisies, this plant does not have "ray florets." Ray florets are the petal-like parts you see on the outside of a sunflower or a common daisy.
Seeds and Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit called an achene. An achene is a small, dry fruit that contains one seed. Think of a sunflower seed – that's an achene! The achene of Heterotheca oregona has a long, grayish pappus. The pappus is a feathery or bristly structure. It helps the seeds float away on the wind, spreading the plant to new places.
Different Types of Oregon False Goldenaster
There are four main types, or varieties, of Heterotheca oregona. They are quite similar but grow in slightly different areas:
- Heterotheca oregona var. compacta is found from Monterey County to Siskiyou County in California.
- Heterotheca oregona var. oregona grows in Washington, Oregon, and California, as far south as Monterey County.
- Heterotheca oregona var. rudis is found in Oregon and California, reaching south to San Benito County and Amador County.
- Heterotheca oregona var. scaberrima grows from Glenn County to San Luis Obispo County in California.
