For the last couple of weeks, I have enjoyed seeing patches of pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) along the roadside. Unlike coltsfoot, another early spring wildflower, pussytoes are native to North America and can be found across Canada and the northern states. It is easy to see how they come by their name. Each stem holds a cluster of small fuzzy heads that can readily be envisioned as the digits of felines. Pussytoes are members of the aster family, and each flowerhead is actually a composite of many tiny flowers growing together on mass.
Pussytoes spread by rhizomes, so a clump is composed of clones of the original plant. They are diecious, meaning that female flowers and male flowers grow on separate plants. Thus, a clump of pussytoes contains either all male or all female flowers. The female flowers don’t require male flowers to reproduce and in the absence of nearby male plants, can still produce seed. This process is termed parthenogenesis, a name derived from the Greek for virgin birth.
The male staminate plants can be identified by their orange-brown anthers protruding out above the flowers like an insect’s antennae, presumably the source of the scientific name, Antennaria. As for the species name, neglecta, one source I came across suggested it reflected the fact that the flowers are easily overlooked, or neglected. A more convincing version stated that botanists named the species neglecta because its status as a separate species was overlooked for many years. Not until 1897 was the plant officially described for science by Edward Greene (1843-1915), first professor of botany at the University of California.
Sheri — Pussy-Toes — they have such an appropriate name. The field covered with them is beautiful. Nice photo and information — barbara
i agree, i can see why they are named that! i’ve never heard of them before though, and i just love it when you introduce a new plant in such detail. thank you!
Barbara, aren’t they nice? Thanks
Ana, glad to share this fun plant with you! I find they are more common here than they were around my Toronto-area home, but they are pretty wide spread. Perhaps if you hike, you might come across some.
[…] House Chronicles provides some insight to the live of her local Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta). I was impressed by what appeared to be fields of pussytoes growing -as the pussytoes I’ve […]
Great post! Ours here in the Rockies (A. parvifolia, A. rosea, etc…??) never grow in whole open fields like this–what a sight! The ones I see are more in small patches amid forests, so this is fascinating. Good to know more of their lifestyles as well.
Thanks for being part of Berry-Go-Round!
Antennaria plantaginifolia is the species we see most often; it’s known by the common names Pussytoes, Plantainleaf Pussytoes, and Woman’s Tobacco. In fact, that plant is more distinctive than the blooms and I’ve been enjoying spotting them in many local counties this year. This species doesn’t develop the ‘open’ flowers that Antennaria neglecta does. It’s so nice to see photographs of Antennaria neglecta.
Thanks, Sally. The photograph perhaps makes the patch look larger than it was, but there were sizeable stands all along the roadside where this was taken.
Joan, Woman’s Tobacco is an funny name too! It’s interesting to hear of different species from you and Sally.
[…] Note: I’d like to thank Sheri Leckie of Willow House Chronicles for allowing me to use her photo of a field of field pussytoes. […]