Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Rosy Pussytoes
Antennaria rosea
Aster family (Asteraceae)

Antennaria species are distinctive with flower clusters resembling fluffy cat toes. There is a good deal of debate among taxonomists as to the classification of individual species. Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) are, however, fairly distinctive, producing flowering heads surrounded by pink . of some pussytoes have long white hair-like . Pussytoes can be distinguished from Pearly Everlasting by the presence of . "Antennaria" refers to antennae-like floral parts.


©2017 Keir Morse

Description

Mat-forming, , 2-12" tall. Erect stems are topped with 3-20 flowerheads arranged in small tight clusters. Flower range in color from white to pink-rosy. are small, spoon-shaped, and woolly on both sides. Leaves along stem few and narrowly . Male and female flowers occur on separate plants.

Field Marks

Tight, white-woolly flowers like toes of a cat arising from .

© Al Schneider

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

stoloniferous -- Having stolons or runners, stems running along the ground.

bristle -- A straight, stiff hair.

basal leaves -- a leaf that grows lowest on the stem of a plant.

lanceolate -- Lance-shaped. Long, wider in the middle.