Shortleaf baccharis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shortleaf baccharis |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Baccharis
|
| Species: |
brachyphylla
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Neomolina brachyphylla (A.Gray) F.H.Hellw. |
|
Baccharis brachyphylla, also known as shortleaf baccharis or false willow, is a type of shrub that grows in North America. It belongs to the daisy family, which includes many well-known flowers. This plant is native to the southwestern parts of the United States and northern Mexico.
You can often find this shrub growing in dry, desert areas. It likes places like arroyos, which are dry creek beds, and canyons, which are deep valleys with steep sides.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This shrub has green stems that grow straight up and branch out. It can reach about one meter (or about three feet) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the shortleaf baccharis are long and thin, shaped like a spear. They are usually less than two centimeters (less than an inch) long.
The plant produces many flower heads that are grouped together in a wide display. These flowers and the leaves feel a bit sticky because they have glands.
Male and Female Plants
Baccharis brachyphylla is a dioecious species. This means that there are separate male and female plants. The male plants produce male flowers, and the female plants produce female flowers. Even though they have different jobs, the flowers on both male and female plants look quite similar.
Seeds and Fruit
After the female flowers are pollinated, they produce fruits. These fruits are called achenes. An achene is a small, dry fruit that contains one seed, like a sunflower seed. The achenes of this plant are ribbed and about two to three millimeters long. Each achene also has a fuzzy, hair-like structure called a pappus, which is about five millimeters long. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind, spreading them to new places.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant is found in several states in the southwestern United States. These include southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas. It also grows in northern Mexico, specifically in Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora.
Its ability to grow in dry, desert environments makes it an important part of the ecosystem in these regions.
See also
In Spanish: Baccharis brachyphylla para niños
