Symphyotrichum fontinale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Symphyotrichum fontinale |
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Symphyotrichum
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fontinale
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The Symphyotrichum fontinale is a special kind of flowering plant found only in Florida. It's often called the Florida water aster or Florida water American-aster. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It's also herbaceous, which means it has soft, green stems instead of woody ones like trees.
About the Florida Water Aster
This plant can grow to be about 30 to 90 centimeters (that's about 1 to 3 feet) tall. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is also known as the daisy or sunflower family.
Its Unique Flowers
Like all plants in the Asteraceae family, the Florida water aster has what looks like one big flower. But actually, each "flower" is made up of many tiny flowers called florets. These florets are grouped together very closely to form a single flower head. This is why they are called "composite flowers" – they are a composite, or mix, of many small flowers.
Protecting the Florida Water Aster
The Florida water aster is considered a vulnerable plant. An organization called NatureServe lists it as "Vulnerable (G3)" worldwide. This means that while it's not in immediate danger of disappearing, it needs protection to make sure it stays healthy and continues to grow in Florida. Protecting plants like the Florida water aster helps keep our natural world balanced and beautiful.
