Rockslide yellow fleabane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockslide yellow fleabane |
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Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Erigeron
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Species: |
leiomerus
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Synonyms | |
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Erigeron leiomerus is a special flowering plant. It is part of the daisy family. People often call it rockslide yellow fleabane or rockslide fleabane. This plant is quite rare.
It grows naturally in the western United States. You can mostly find it in the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin. It has been seen in states like Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
What it Looks Like
Erigeron leiomerus is a type of plant called a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) tall. That is about the length of a pencil!
The plant has a strong, woody taproot. This root helps it stay firm in rocky places. Both its leaves and stem are covered with tiny hairs.
Its Flowers
This plant usually grows just one flower head on each stem. Each flower head is quite colorful. It can have up to 60 ray florets. These are the petal-like parts you see on a daisy. They can be purple, blue, or white.
In the center of these ray florets are many yellow disc florets. These are the tiny flowers that make up the center of the head.
Where it Lives
The rockslide fleabane loves to grow in tough places. It is often found on rockslides. These are areas where rocks have fallen down a slope.
It lives in two main types of environments. One is alpine tundra. This is a very cold, treeless area high up in mountains. The other is coniferous forests. These are forests with trees that have needles and cones, like pine trees. It always grows at high elevations.