Anaphalis margaritacea

Anaphalis margaritacea
Close-up photo of the capitula
Conservation status

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Gnaphalieae
Genus: Anaphalis
Species: A. margaritacea
Binomial name
Anaphalis margaritacea
(L.) Benth. & Hook.f. (1873)

Sources: NatureServe,[1] IPNI,[2] GRIN[3]

Anaphalis margaritacea, commonly known as the western pearly everlasting, is a flowering perennial plant in the Asteraceae family. Since it is the only North American species it is often simply called pearly everlasting in the United States and Canada. However, it is also native to Asia and has been widely introduced in Europe. It grows erect up to about 1.2 meters[4] and has narrow, alternate leaves. One salient feature is that the undersides of the leaves are covered in tiny hairs, giving them a woolly feel and appearance. The stems are dry and brittle. The small whitish to yellowish flower grows in a corymb inflorescence. The inflorescence's most conspicuous part is the numerous white bracts that surround the actual flowers.[5]

The plant is dioecious. It prefers dry, sunny climates, although it is hardy to temperatures well below freezing; it is common throughout North America excepting states that border the Gulf of Mexico. The leaves and young plants are edible when cooked.[6]

References

  1. ↑ NatureServe (2006), "Anaphalis margaritacea", NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life, Version 6.1., Arlington, Virginia
  2. ↑ International Organization for Plant Information (IOPI). "Plant Name Search Results" (HTML). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  3. ↑ Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (1999-12-19). "Taxon: Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Benth. & Hook. f.". Taxonomy for Plants. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  4. ↑ C.Michael Hogan. Species editor. 2010. Anaphalis margaritace. Encyclopedia of Life
  5. ↑ Nesom, Guy L. (2006), "Anaphalis margaritacea", in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+, Flora of North America 19, New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 427
  6. ↑ "Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)".

External links