Podunk ragwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Podunk ragwort |
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Senecio malmstenii |
Packera malmstenii, also called Podunk ragwort, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the aster family, just like sunflowers! This plant is very rare. You can only find it in Utah, United States. There are only about 19 known places where it grows, all in southwestern Utah.
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What is Packera malmstenii?
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It does not have a woody stem like a tree. The Packera malmstenii usually grows about 8 to 15 centimeters tall. That's about the length of a pencil!
How it Grows
The plant grows from a branching rhizome. A rhizome is like an underground stem. It helps the plant spread. It can produce one stem or a small group of stems. Its leaves are oval-shaped. They can be up to 2.5 centimeters long.
Its Flowers
The Packera malmstenii has one or more flower heads. Each head has 13 blue-green phyllaries. These are like small leaves that protect the flower. They are about a centimeter long. Sometimes, the flower head has ray florets. These are the petal-like parts you see on a daisy. Other times, they might not be there. This plant blooms in July and August.
Where Packera malmstenii Lives
This special plant grows on limestone rock. It is found in a specific area of Utah. This area is called the Claron Formation. You can find it on a few high places. These include the Markagunt, Aquarius, and Paunsaugunt Plateaus.
Protected Areas
The plant also grows inside two important protected areas. These are the Dixie National Forest and Cedar Breaks National Monument. These places help keep the plant safe.
Why it's Safe
Even though it's rare, there are not many threats to this plant. It grows in places that are hard to reach. The soil there is also very special. It has a lot of calcium carbonate. This type of soil is not good for weeds. So, fewer weeds can grow and compete with the Packera malmstenii. This helps it survive and thrive in its unique home.
