Cooper's paper daisy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooper's paper daisy |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: |
Psilostrophe
|
| Species: |
P. cooperi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Psilostrophe cooperi (A.Gray) Greene
|
|
Psilostrophe cooperi is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family. People often call it Cooper's paper daisy or whitestem paperflower. This plant grows naturally in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. You can find it in California, the Southwestern United States, and northwestern Mexico.
Contents
What is Cooper's Paper Daisy?
Cooper's paper daisy is a type of perennial shrub. This means it lives for more than two years. Its stems grow from a woody base. They form a shape that looks almost like a ball. It's a low, spreading bush. The leaves are a pale green color and feel a bit hairy.
How Does it Handle Dry Weather?
This plant is very clever about dry conditions. It can drop its leaves when there isn't enough water. This is called being drought deciduous. It helps the plant save water during dry spells.
Exploring the Stems and Leaves
The stems of Cooper's paper daisy are strong. They help the plant stand up. The leaves are long and thin, like lines. They grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. This means they don't grow directly opposite each other.
Discovering the Flowers
The flowers of Cooper's paper daisy look like small daisies. They are called flower heads. Each flower head has 3 to 8 golden-yellow petals. These petals are actually called ray florets. They have deeply toothed edges.
How Do the Flowers Grow?
The flower heads often grow in bunches. You'll find them together at the very tops of the stems. They form a nice rounded spray. The ray flowers stay on the plant for a while. Then they dry out. Even when dry, they keep their bright yellow color. They become papery, which is why it's called a "paper daisy"!
