Palafoxia arida var. gigantea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palafoxia arida var. gigantea |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Palafoxia |
| Species: | |
| Varietas: |
P. a. var. gigantea
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| Trinomial name | |
| Palafoxia arida var. gigantea (M.E.Jones) B.L.Turner & M.I.Morris
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Palafoxia arida var. gigantea, often called Spanish needles, is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the big sunflower family (which scientists call Asteraceae). This plant is special because it's a type of Palafoxia arida that grows really big, like a "giant" version!
Contents
Where Spanish Needles Grow
Desert Homes of the Spanish Needles
This unique plant loves warm, dry places. You can find Palafoxia arida var. gigantea in the western and northwestern parts of the Sonoran Desert. This desert stretches across Arizona and into the southeastern California area known as the Colorado Desert.
It also grows in northwestern Mexico, specifically in the states of Sonora and Baja California. So, it's a plant that really enjoys the desert sunshine!
Favorite Spots: Sand Dunes and Rivers
Spanish needles are most often found living in sandy areas, like sand dunes. They also like to grow near rivers and water sources. You might spot them along the Colorado River or the Gila River. They even pop up near irrigation canals in places like Imperial County, California.
This plant is considered a Vulnerable species in California by the California Native Plant Society. This means it needs a little extra care to make sure it continues to thrive in its natural home.
What Spanish Needles Look Like
Plant Structure and Leaves
The Palafoxia arida var. gigantea plant stands tall and straight. Its main stem can grow anywhere from about 30 to 60 centimeters (that's about 1 to 2 feet) high. It usually has branches in its lower half and doesn't have a lot of leaves.
If you look closely at the upper parts of the plant, you'll see it's a bit sticky and hairy. Its leaves are long and slender, measuring about 2 to 5 inches in length.
Flowers and Seeds
In places like the Yuma region of the Lower Colorado River Valley, where it's partly shady and gets a little rain each year, a single Spanish needles plant can grow into a big, bushy shape. These bushy plants can produce around 100 flowers!
When the flowers are done, they make seeds that are carried by the wind. These seeds are a bit like dandelion seeds, but they are larger. Each flower produces a smaller number of seeds compared to a dandelion.
It's easy to spot the plant when it has seeds. The seeds spread out in a flat circle, almost like a tiny parachute. They stay like this until a strong wind blows them off the plant. Each seed is big enough to see clearly, measuring up to 0.6 inches before its "parachute" part. You'll usually find about 10 to 16 seeds in each circular flower-head.
See also
In Spanish: Palafoxia arida para niños
