Rosy Pussytoes
The pussytoes (Antennaria sp.) group are perennials that have clusters of flowering heads on unbranched stems. The flowers are often hard to distinguish, except for rosy pussytoes. Most have basal leaves and many species are mat-forming.
Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria rosa):
- mat-forming with leafy runners
- stems can be short or as tall as 35 cm
- greyish leaves are mostly basal
- composite heads of disk flowers in a rounded shape
- pink to rose bracts surround white central bracts
- photos taken by the author. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
- In late summer smooth achenes form, each with a fine long pappus
- Fertile seeds are produced but many of the plants we encounter are clones.
Rosy pussytoes can be found in a wide variety of habitats in our area. When we hike the trails and routes of our area, we see pussytoes in almost every zone, many of which are not easy to distinguish, and most are mat-like and inconspicuous. Rosy pussytoes are the exception with their longer stems and pinkish-rose flowerheads early in summer.
Thanks for posting. These are so much prettier than the white species.