Piedmont marsh elder facts for kids

Iva microcephala, also known as the piedmont marsh elder, is a type of flowering plant that grows in North America. It belongs to the daisy family, which includes many well-known flowers like sunflowers and dandelions. You can find this plant growing in the southeastern parts of the United States, specifically in states like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

About the Piedmont Marsh Elder

The Piedmont Marsh Elder is a plant that lives for only one year. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies, all within a single year. It is also known as an herb, which means it does not have a woody stem like a tree or a bush.

What It Looks Like

This plant can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 100 centimeters (about 40 inches) in height. Its leaves are very thin and narrow, almost like threads, and can be up to 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) long.

How It Flowers

The flowers of the Piedmont Marsh Elder are quite small. They grow in groups, forming long clusters at the very ends of the plant's branches. Each of these small flower heads usually has only about 5 to 8 tiny flowers inside.

How It Reproduces

Unlike many plants that rely on bees or butterflies, the Piedmont Marsh Elder is a wind-pollinated plant. This means that the wind carries its pollen from one flower to another, helping the plant to make seeds and grow new plants.