Anaphalis margaritacea
- Latin Name: Anaphalis margaritacea
- Family: Asteraceae
- Common Names: pearly everlasting
- Synonyms/Misapplications: Gnaphalium margaritaceum
- Codon: ANAMAR
| Anaphalis margaritacea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by Rod Gilbert. Also featured on Main Page | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Subkingdom: | Tracheobionta |
| Phylum: | Spermatophyta |
| Subphylum: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass: | Asteranae |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Anaphalis DC. |
| Species: | Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Benth. |
Contents
Plant Description
Individual, erect, cottony stems grow 1-3 ft. tall and are often clumped together creating a bushy appearance. Narrow leaves are gray-green to woolly-white. Globular flowers are actually long-enduring, white, dry bracts arranged around a yellow center. Several evenly leafy woolly stems in a small patch are topped by a crowded, roundish cluster of flower heads with pearly-white bracts, sometimes with a dark spot at base of each outer bracts. The dried stalks with their pearly-white heads are attractive in floral arrangements. The pure white flower is commonly used in dried flower arrangements. Good dried flowers; food plant for Painted lady butterflies.[1]
Bloom Period
July through September.[2]
Distribution
Widely distributed throughout Washington; occurring throughout North America except for portions of Midwest and Southeast.[2]
Habitat
Dry to somewhat moist open areas, low to sub-alpine elevations.[2]
Uses
In folk medicine, it is used as a salve for burns. (Strickland)[1]
Propagation
[Propagation protocol from USDA NRCS]
Seed
Seed sample from 2010
Average Measurement: 0.6 x 0.2 x 0.2
Measurement Range: L: 0.4 - 0.75, W: 0.1 - 0.3, D: 0.1 - 0.3
Features
Shape: Seeds somewhat ribbed. Right above hilum, seed narrows considerably before flaring out again.
Color: Seed is brown. Hilum is glossy and puckered, lighter colored that rest of seed.
Additional Features: Pappus of downy white hairs significantly longer that seed itself.
Surface: Seed covered in clear globules and is slightly lustrous.
Could be confused with: Antennaria howellii
Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical 
Basic Explanations and Assumptions:
The dimensions for the seeds are length x width x depth. The location of the hilum is used as the base of the seed, and the length is measured from hilum to the opposite apex. Where a style is present, the length is measured from the hilum to the bottom of the style. Width is measured at a right angle to the length at the widest part. Depth is measured at a right angle to the intersection of height and width lines.
Measurements included are the mean average for each measurement of ten separate seeds.
All measurements in millimeters unless otherwise noted.
References
[1] Native Plants of North America. Retrieved from https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anma.
[2] WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Anaphalis%20margaritacea
Photo Gallery
Photo: Craig Althen, 2010
Photo: Craig Althen, 2017
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Anaphalis margaritacea (Western Pearly Everlasting) | Native Plants of North America.” Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anma.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Anaphalis%20margaritacea
