Owl's crown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Owl's crown |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Gnaphalieae
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| Genus: |
Gamochaeta
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| Species: |
G. sphacelata
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| Binomial name | |
| Gamochaeta sphacelata (Kunth) Cabrera 1961
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Gamochaeta sphacelata, also known as Owl's crown, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the sunflower family, which includes many well-known plants like daisies and sunflowers. This plant is found in many parts of the Americas.
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About Owl's Crown
Owl's crown is a fascinating plant with unique features. It is known for its small, purple flowers and its wide distribution.
Where Does Owl's Crown Grow?
This plant is very common across South America, Central America, and Mexico. It grows in many different environments in these regions. You can also find it in a small part of western Texas, in the United States. It just barely crosses the Río Grande river into Texas.
What Does Owl's Crown Look Like?
Owl's crown is an annual herb. This means it completes its entire life cycle, from seed to flower to seed, within one year. It then dies, and new plants grow from its seeds the next year.
Plant Size and Leaves
This herb can grow up to 50 cm (20 in) tall. That's about half a meter, or roughly the length of your arm! Its leaves are long and narrow. They can be up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long.
Flowers and How They Grow
The Owl's crown plant produces many small flower heads. These flower heads grow in long, stretched-out clusters. Each tiny flower head has only a few flowers inside, usually about 3 to 5. These flowers are purple. Unlike some plants in the sunflower family, Owl's crown does not have "ray flowers." Ray flowers are the petal-like structures you see on a daisy or sunflower. Instead, it only has "disc flowers," which are the small, tube-shaped flowers in the center of a flower head.
