California mountain pincushion facts for kids

Orochaenactis is a special group of flowering plants that belongs to the daisy family. This group has only one known species, called Orochaenactis thysanocarpha. You might know it better by its common name, California mountain pincushion.

This unique plant grows only in a specific area. It is found in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. There, it thrives in the forests and open meadows high up in the mountains.

What Does the California Mountain Pincushion Look Like?

The California mountain pincushion, or Orochaenactis thysanocarpha, is an annual herb. This means it completes its entire life cycle in just one year.

Stems and Leaves

It grows a thin stem that often branches out. This stem can reach about 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall. The plant's stem and leaves are usually covered with a thin to thick layer of hairs. Sometimes, these hairs are glandular, meaning they can produce sticky substances.

The leaves of this plant are narrow and generally long and thin. They can grow up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) in length.

Flowers and Fruit

The plant produces small flower heads. These heads are like tiny clusters of flowers. Each flower head is surrounded by purple, leaf-like structures called phyllaries. These phyllaries are nestled within a group of larger, leaf-like bracts.

Inside each flower head, you'll find several yellow disc florets. These are the small, tube-shaped flowers that make up the center of a daisy-like bloom.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a ribbed achene, which is a type of dry, single-seeded fruit. It's similar to a sunflower seed. The fruit is topped with a pappus. A pappus is a crown of fringelike scales. The entire fruit, including the pappus, is about half a centimeter (about 0.2 inches) long.