Verbesina centroboyacana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verbesina centroboyacana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verbesina
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| Species: |
centroboyacana
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Verbesina centroboyacana is a special kind of shrub that grows only in Colombia. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is a big group of plants that includes sunflowers and daisies. This plant is endemic to Colombia, meaning it's found naturally nowhere else in the world.
What This Plant Looks Like
This shrub can grow up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) tall, which is about as tall as a basketball hoop!
Its leaves grow one after another along the stem. They feel a bit like leather and are shaped like an egg or a spearhead. The top and bottom of the leaves are smooth. The tip of the leaf is pointy, and the base narrows down to a short, false stem. The edges of the leaves curl under and have small teeth, but only on the top two-thirds.
The flowers grow in groups called Inflorescences. These groups can look like flat-topped clusters or branching arrangements. The small stems holding the flowers are a bit hairy.
The flowers themselves are white. They have two main types of petals:
- Ray florets: These are the outer petals, like the "rays" of a daisy. There are usually 5 to 10 of these, and they are female flowers. They are shaped like an ellipse and have three small teeth at the end.
- Disk florets: These are the small, tube-shaped flowers in the center. There are about 20 of these, and they have both male and female parts. Their petals are slightly hairy and have five small teeth.
After the flowers bloom, they produce small, flat seeds called achenes. These seeds are about 4 millimeters long. They have two small, fringed edges that help them spread.
Where It Grows
Verbesina centroboyacana is found only in Colombia. It grows in the Eastern Cordillera mountain range. You can find it in the departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca. This plant likes to grow at high altitudes, from about 1,990 meters (6,529 feet) to 3,120 meters (10,236 feet) above sea level.
See also
In Spanish: Verbesina centroboyacana para niños
