Surf thistle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Surf thistle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cirsium
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| Species: |
rhothophilum
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The surf thistle (Cirsium rhothophilum) is a very rare type of thistle plant. It grows only in a small area along the coast of California, near the border between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. You can find it growing in sand dunes and other plants near the beach.
What is the Surf Thistle?
The surf thistle is a special plant because it is endemic to California. This means it naturally grows nowhere else in the world! It prefers sandy areas right by the ocean, like coastal dunes. Because it grows in such a specific and small area, it is considered a rare species.
How Does it Look?
This thistle can grow quite tall, up to 100 cm (39 in) (about 39 inches). It often forms a rounded shape, like a small mound. Its leaves are thick and feel a bit like wool. They can have different edges, some smooth, some wavy, and some with small teeth or tiny spines. The biggest leaves are at the bottom of the plant and can be up to 25 centimetres (9.8 inches) (about 10 inches) long.
Its Flowers
The surf thistle produces several groups of flower heads. Each flower head can be up to 4 centimeters long and 6 centimeters wide. These heads are covered in woolly leaf-like parts called phyllaries. Inside, you'll find many small, off-white to pale yellow flowers. These are called disc florets. Unlike some other thistles, the surf thistle does not have ray florets, which are the petal-like flowers you might see on a daisy.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small fruits called achenes. These are only a few millimeters long. Each achene has a feathery top part called a pappus, which can be up to 2 centimeters long. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind, spreading new plants.
