California compassplant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California compassplant |
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Wyethia
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W. angustifolia
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| Wyethia angustifolia (DC.) Nutt.
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Wyethia angustifolia is a cool flowering plant often called the California compassplant or narrowleaf mule's ears. It's part of the big aster family, just like sunflowers! You can find this plant growing along the west coast of the United States, from Washington all the way down to California. It loves open spaces like grasslands and meadows.
Discover the California Compassplant
The California compassplant is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for many years, not just one season. It grows from a strong root system and can reach a height of about 30 to 90 centimeters (about 1 to 3 feet).
Where it Grows
This plant is native to the western parts of the United States. You can find it in states like Washington, Oregon, and California. It prefers sunny spots in grasslands, open fields, and meadows.
What it Looks Like
The leaves of the California compassplant are long and shaped like a spear. They can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. The plant's stem is often hairy.
At the top of the stem, you'll see one or more large flower heads. These flower heads look a lot like small sunflowers. Each head has narrow, hairy leaves called phyllaries at its base.
The flower heads have two kinds of yellow flowers:
- Up to 21 ray florets (these are the long, petal-like parts around the edge). Each can be up to 4.5 centimeters long.
- Many disc florets (these are the tiny flowers in the center of the head).
How it Makes Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a type of fruit called an achene. This achene is actually the plant's seed. It can be almost 2 centimeters long. Each seed has a special feathery top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seed float away in the wind, like a tiny parachute, to find a new place to grow.
