Parish's chaenactis facts for kids

Chaenactis parishii is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, just like sunflowers and daisies you might know! People often call it Parish's chaenactis.

Where It Grows

This plant naturally grows in a special area. You can find it in the Peninsular Ranges of southern California. This includes places like San Diego County and western Riverside County. It also grows in northern Baja California, which is south of California. Chaenactis parishii loves to live in a type of environment called chaparral. Chaparral is a dry area with many shrubs and bushes.

What It Looks Like

Chaenactis parishii is a small shrub, sometimes called a subshrub. It grows several straight stems that can reach up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. These stems are covered in soft, white, felt-like hairs.

The leaves of this plant are also woolly. They are a few centimeters long and are divided into many small, interesting shapes called lobes.

The plant produces flower heads. These flower heads grow on a tall, straight stalk called a peduncle. Each flower head has grayish, woolly leaves around its base, which are called phyllaries. Inside, you'll find many small flowers. These flowers can be white or have a light pink color.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a type of fruit called an achene. This fruit has a feathery or scaly top part, known as a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind, spreading the plant to new places.