Pilosella horrida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pilosella horrida |
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The Pilosella horrida, also known as the prickly hawkweed or shaggy hawkweed, is a unique plant. It gets its name from the long, thick, shaggy hairs that cover all parts of the plant. These hairs can be white or brown. This plant grows naturally in the western United States, specifically in Oregon, California, and Nevada.
This hawkweed plant usually grows between 10 to 38 centimeters (4 to 15 inches) tall. It has oblong-shaped leaves along its stems. At the top of each stem, you'll find 11 to 12 bright yellow flower heads. Each flower head is quite small, about 8 to 9 millimeters (0.3 to 0.35 inches) wide. You can see these plants flowering from late June through August.
Like all plants in the Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and sunflowers, what looks like a single flower is actually made up of many tiny flowers called florets. Each of these tiny florets has its own petal-like part. If you break the stems or leaves of Pilosella horrida, you'll notice a milky liquid. This is common for plants in the Cichorieae group, which includes chicory and dandelions.
What's in a Name?
The second part of the plant's scientific name, horridum, comes from a Latin word meaning 'bristly'. This name perfectly describes its very hairy leaves and stems!
Where Does it Grow?
The prickly hawkweed, Pilosella horrida, likes to live in dry, rocky areas. You can find it in mountainous forests in Oregon, California, and Nevada. It grows at high elevations, usually between 1,500 to 3,600 meters (5,000 to 12,000 feet) above sea level.
