Emory's rockdaisy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emory's rockdaisy
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Asteroideae
Tribe:	Perityleae
Genus:	Perityle
Species:	P. emoryi
Binomial name
Perityle emoryi Torr.

Perityle emoryi is a type of flowering plant often called Emory's rockdaisy. It belongs to the aster family, which includes sunflowers and daisies. This plant naturally grows in the Southwestern United States, parts of northwest Mexico, and the Baja California Peninsula.

You can often find Emory's rockdaisy growing wild in deserts. It also appears in coastal areas of California. This plant is very tough and can grow in many different places. It even tolerates areas that have been disturbed, like roadsides. Sometimes, it can spread quickly and become a bit like a weed. Interestingly, this plant has also been found in Chile and Peru. It has even become an introduced species in some parts of Hawaii. It seems to be spreading to new places over time.

What Does Emory's Rockdaisy Look Like?

Emory's rockdaisy is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle, from seed to flower to seed, in just one year. The plant can be quite different in how it looks. Some plants are small, only about 2 centimeters tall, with delicate stems. Others can grow much taller, up to 60 centimeters, with thick, branching stems that spread out. The plant usually feels a bit hairy and sticky because it has special glands.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of Emory's rockdaisy grow one after another along the stem. They come in many different shapes. Some leaves have jagged edges, like teeth, while others are divided into several parts, called lobes. Each leaf grows on a small stalk, known as a petiole.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Emory's rockdaisy grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This can be a single flower head or a group of many flower heads. Each flower head looks like a small dome or bell and is usually less than a centimeter wide.

In the center of each head, you'll see many tiny, golden disc florets. Around the edge, there's a fringe of 8 to 12 white ray florets. These white petals are only a few millimeters long. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small fruit called an achene. This fruit often has a fluffy or bristly top, known as a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.