Rayless goldenhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rayless goldenhead |
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Astereae
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A. sphaerocephalus
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| Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus (Harv. & A.Gray ex A.Gray) A.Gray
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The Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus is a type of flowering plant. People often call it the rayless goldenhead. It belongs to the aster family, which includes many well-known flowers like daisies and sunflowers. This plant grows naturally in the southwestern United States. You can find it in places like southern California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
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What Does the Rayless Goldenhead Look Like?
This plant is usually a shrub. It has stems that grow straight up and branch out. The bark on its stems is often whitish or gray and looks like it's peeling off.
Size and Leaves
The rayless goldenhead can grow up to about one meter (which is about 3 feet) tall. But most of the time, it's shorter, usually between 20 to 40 centimeters (about 8 to 16 inches) high. Its leaves are a gray-green color. They are long and narrow, or shaped like a spear. The leaves grow one after another along the stem. Sometimes, you might see them in small groups. They can be smooth or have tiny, rough hairs.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant's inflorescence (which is how its flowers are arranged) is usually a single flower head. Sometimes, you might see a small group of heads. Each head looks like half a ball or a full ball. The flowers inside are yellow and are called disc florets. Interestingly, this plant does not have ray florets. Ray florets are the petal-like parts you see on flowers like daisies. The fruit of this plant is a small, dry seed called an achene. It has thick scales and bristles on top.
Where Does the Rayless Goldenhead Grow?
The rayless goldenhead loves the dry areas of the southwestern United States. It is very common in the Mojave Desert. You can also find it in the southern part of the Great Basin and the northern Sonoran Desert.
Its Favorite Spots
This plant often grows in desert washes. These are dry streambeds that fill with water only after it rains. It also likes flat plains, mesas (flat-topped hills), and ridges.
Plant Neighbors
The rayless goldenhead lives in many different plant communities. You can find it in pinyon-juniper woodlands, areas with mesquite trees, and places with creosote bushes. It also grows in grassy shrubsteppes. It often shares its home with other plants like catclaw acacia, California juniper, scrub oak, and the famous Joshua tree. Other plant friends include California buckwheat, golden cholla, and Mojave yucca.
