Southern Sierra pincushion facts for kids

Chaenactis alpigena is a small flowering plant. It is part of the daisy family. People often call it the southern Sierra pincushion. This plant grows naturally in the High Sierra Nevada mountains. It is also found in the White Mountains of California. A small part of its habitat extends into Nevada.

About the Southern Sierra Pincushion

This plant is quite small. It usually grows only a few centimeters tall. It has many stems that can stand up straight or lie flat. These stems often form dense mats or clumps on the ground.

What Does It Look Like?

The southern Sierra pincushion is usually gray or yellowish. It feels very soft and woolly because it is covered in thick hairs. Sometimes, you might find green plants with almost no hair.

The leaves grow in a circle at the base of the plant. This is called a rosette. Each leaf is thick but not juicy. They are shaped like a scoop. The edges of the leaves have a few small bumps or lobes. Leaves can look different depending on if the plant is from the northern or southern parts of its range.

Flowers and Seeds

Each stem usually has one flower head. This head is about 1 to 2 centimeters long. It is somewhat round and covered in hairs, but it is not sticky. The flower head has long, flat, blunt-pointed leaves called phyllaries around it.

Inside the head are many small flowers. These flowers are white, sometimes with a pink tint. They have large, dark anthers that stick out. The anthers are the parts that hold pollen. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is called an achene. It is over a centimeter long. The achene has a fluffy top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind.

Where It Grows

The southern Sierra pincushion likes sandy and gravelly soil. It lives in high mountain areas. These areas have alpine or subalpine weather. This means it's often cold, and the growing season is short. Sometimes, people also grow this plant in rock gardens.