Antennaria neglecta (Field Pussytoes)

Plant Info

Also known as:
Genus:	Antennaria
Family:	Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; dry fields, prairies, open woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	4 to 16 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in a rounded cluster up to 1 inch across at the top of the plant, made up of 2 to 8 grayish white flower heads ¼ to 1/3 inch long. The flower heads look like little furry balls, with tiny scaly bracts.

There are separate male and female flowers on different plants. The male flowers are less furry looking and have brown stamens protruding from the white flowers.

Leaves and stem:

There is a clump of basal leaves near the main stem, but separate from it. Basal leaves are narrowly spatula shaped, up to 2 inches long and averaging ½ inch wide, with a pointed tip and 1 prominent vein down the middle.

Stem leaves are up to 2½ inches long and about ¼ inch wide, toothless, alternately attached with no leaf stem. All leaves are covered in woolly hairs, giving them a gray-green color. The main stem is also covered in woolly hairs. The stem often angles or leans over in the upper part of the plant.

Fruit:

Fruit is a tiny brown seed. A tuft of white hair is attached to carry it off in the wind.

Notes:

According to the DNR, there are 4 species of pussytoes in Minnesota. Details on identification are sketchy but they all seem similar. Distinguishing features are the number of prominent veins, best seen on the back of the basal leaves, and whether the leaves are woolly hairy or relatively hairless. Field Pussytoes has hairy leaves and 1 prominent vein on the leaves, though I've often seen 2 additional faint veins on the back. Plantain-leaved Pussytoes also has woolly leaves, but they are much broader and have 3 to 5 prominent veins. Field Pussytoes may be seen growing alone, but most often in clumps.

More photos

• Field Pussytoes plants, about 8 inches tall
• more flowers

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Shoreview, MN and Wild River State Park, Center City, MN May-June 2008

Comments

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