Stem raillardella facts for kids

Raillardella scaposa is a type of flowering plant often called the stem raillardella. It belongs to the aster family, which includes sunflowers and daisies. This plant is native to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and western Nevada. You can also find it in parts of the southern Cascade Range in Oregon. It's a tough plant that can grow in many different places, from wet areas to dry, sunny spots to shady ones.

About the Stem Raillardella

The stem raillardella is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for many years. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. This helps it spread and form a clump. Its leaves grow in a circle close to the ground, like a rosette. These leaves are long and narrow, up to 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) in length. They can also be a bit sticky or have tiny bumps because they are glandular.

Flowers and Appearance

The plant sends up a flower stalk, also known as an inflorescence, that can be anywhere from a few centimeters to half a meter (about 20 inches) tall. At the top of this stalk are the flower heads. These aren't just one flower, but a cluster of many tiny flowers grouped together. The flower heads can be shaped like a cylinder or a half-sphere. Each head is full of small yellow to orange flowers called disc florets. Sometimes, there are also a few ray florets, which look like petals, around the edge.

Seeds and Reproduction

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a type of fruit called an achene. This is a dry, narrow seed-like fruit, about 1 to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. Attached to the achene is a feathery part called a pappus. This pappus acts like a tiny parachute, helping the seeds float away on the wind to new places. This is how the plant spreads its seeds and makes new plants.

See also

In Spanish: Raillardella scaposa para niños