Virgin River brittlebush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Encelia virginensis |
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Encelia
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E. virginensis
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| Encelia virginensis A.Nels.
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The Encelia virginensis is a type of flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the daisy family. People often call it the Virgin River brittlebush.
This plant is a native shrub. It grows in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. You can especially find it in the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Desert. It has been seen in places like Baja California, southern California, Nevada, Arizona, southwestern Utah, and southwestern New Mexico.
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About the Virgin River Brittlebush
The Virgin River brittlebush is a plant that spreads out. It can grow to be about 100 to 150 centimeters tall. That's about 40 to 60 inches, which is taller than many kids!
What the Plant Looks Like
This shrub has many branches. The younger parts of the branches feel hairy. Older stems grow a thicker bark. The leaves are a gray-green color. They can be fuzzy or hairy. They might look pale because of many tiny hairs on their surface.
Its Flowers and Fruit
At the top of many upright, hairy stems, you'll find single daisy-like flower heads. Each flower head has 11 to 21 ray florets. These are the parts that look like petals, and they are usually yellow. In the center of the flower, there are many yellow disc florets. These are the tiny flowers that make up the center.
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit called an achene. This achene is small, about 5 to 8 millimeters long. It usually does not have a pappus, which is a special set of hairs or scales found on some seeds.
Different Types of Virgin River Brittlebush
There are a couple of slightly different types, or varieties, of the Virgin River brittlebush:
- Encelia virginensis var. actonii - This type is found in California, Nevada, and Baja California.
- Encelia virginensis var. virginensis - This type grows in southern California, Nevada, Arizona, southwestern Utah, and southwestern New Mexico.
