Sandy-woods chaffhead facts for kids

The Sandy-woods chaffhead (scientific name: Carphephorus bellidifolius) is a type of plant found in North America. It belongs to the sunflower family, which is a very large group of flowering plants.

This plant grows naturally in the southeastern United States. You can find it in states like Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

What Does It Look Like?

The Sandy-woods chaffhead is a plant that grows from the ground, like a herb. It can reach a height of about 60 centimeters (24 inches). That's about as tall as a two-foot ruler!

This plant is mostly smooth, meaning it doesn't have a lot of hairs on its stem or leaves. It produces many small, purplish flowers. These flowers grow in a loose cluster, which means they are spread out and not tightly packed together.

Its Unique Flowers

The flowers of the Sandy-woods chaffhead are special. They are part of the sunflower family, which often has two kinds of petals:

• Disc florets: These are the small, tube-shaped flowers found in the center of a sunflower.
• Ray florets: These are the longer, petal-like flowers that grow around the edge, like the yellow "petals" of a typical sunflower.

The Sandy-woods chaffhead has many disc florets, which give its flower heads a full, rounded look. However, it does not have any ray florets. This means its flowers don't have the long, showy "petals" that you might see on a daisy or a sunflower.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant loves sandy areas, especially in woodlands. This is why it's called "Sandy-woods chaffhead." It thrives in the warm, humid climate of the southeastern United States.

It's important to understand where plants grow naturally. This helps scientists learn about different ecosystems and how to protect them.