Desert palafox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert palafox |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| P. arida var. arida (autonym) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Asteroideae
|
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
P. arida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Palafoxia arida B.L.Turner & M.I.Morris
|
|
Palafoxia arida is a type of flowering plant in the aster family. It's often called the desert palafox or Spanish needle.
Where It Grows
This plant naturally grows in the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert. You can find it in California, the Southwestern United States, and northwestern Mexico.
What It Looks Like
Palafoxia arida is an annual herb. This means it lives for only one growing season. It has a straight stem that branches out. The stem can feel a bit sticky or hairy.
Its leaves are rough and hairy. They are long and narrow, like a line or a spearhead. These leaves can grow longer than 10 centimeters (about 4 inches).
The plant produces many flower heads, sometimes up to 40 of them. These flower heads are shaped like cylinders. They are about 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Each head has long, pointed leaves called phyllaries around it. Inside, there are up to 40 pink or white tube-shaped flowers.
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes a type of fruit called an achene. This fruit is over a centimeter long. It includes a feathery top part called a pappus. The pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.
Different Kinds
There are two main types, or varieties, of Palafoxia arida:
- Palafoxia arida var. arida: This is the common desert needle or desert palafox.
- Palafoxia arida var. gigantea: This type is called the Giant Spanish needle. It is much larger and can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall.
See also
In Spanish: Palafoxia arida para niños
