American threefold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids American threefold |
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| In Palm Canyon, California | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Mutisioideae
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| Tribe: |
Mutisieae
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| Genus: |
Trixis
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| Species: |
T. californica
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| Binomial name | |
| Trixis californica Kellogg
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Trixis californica, also called the American threefold or American trixis, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is the same family as sunflowers and daisies! This plant grows naturally in the southwestern United States, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. You can also find it in many parts of Mexico, like Baja California and Sonora.
Trixis californica is one of 22 different species in the Trixis group. These plants are found across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and even parts of South America like Argentina and Brazil.
Contents
What Does the American Trixis Look Like?
The American trixis is a plant that spreads out, like a small shrub. It can also be a "subshrub," meaning it's a bit woody at the bottom but softer on top. Its flower heads are made up of about 15 bright yellow flowers.
Where Do Its Flowers Grow?
The flowers usually grow in a cluster at the end of the branches. This cluster can be a panicle (a loose, branching cluster) or a corymb (a flat-topped cluster). Sometimes, the flowers grow alone at the very tips of the branches.
What About Its Leaves?
The leaves of the American trixis are shaped like a spearhead, which is called "lance-shaped." They are dark green and can be anywhere from 2 to 11 centimeters (about 1 to 4 inches) long. They are also 0.5 to 3 centimeters (about 0.2 to 1.2 inches) wide.
Where Does This Plant Live?
You can find this plant from sea level all the way up to 5,000 feet high! It likes to grow on rocky hillsides, in thorny bushes, and in desert washes (dry riverbeds) and brush areas. In the western Sonoran Desert, it mostly grows in washes, often among other plants. In the Colorado Desert, it grows in areas with creosote bushes. It also grows in scrublands in the Yuma Desert.
When Does It Bloom?
Even though it usually flowers between February and October, the American trixis can bloom almost all year long! This depends on how warm or cold the winter weather is.
How Was This Plant Used?
In the past, the Seri people of Mexico used the leaves of the American trixis. They used them for cultural purposes. The plant was also used in traditional medicine for health purposes.
Images for kids
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Form
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In flower
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Flower heads (var. californica)
