Antennaria parvifolia
Encyclopedia
Antennaria parvifolia is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names Nuttall's pussytoes and small-leaf pussytoes (not to be confused with littleleaf pussytoes
). It is native to North America, where it occurs throughout much of Canada from British Columbia
to Ontario
, the western and central United States, and northern Mexico. It has not been observed in California
since 1987.
This plant generally grows a few centimeters high but it may reach 15 centimeters. The grayish, woolly-haired leaves are up to 3.5 centimeters long, the upper ones shorter and narrower than the basal. The inflorescence
contains 2 to 7 flower heads
. The plant may be gynoecious
, containing only female flowers, or dioecious
, with some female plants and some male in a given population. Dioecious plants are most common in Colorado
and New Mexico
, and can reproduce sexually
, though male plants are much less common than female. Plants in most other areas are mostly gynoecious, reproducing via apomixis
. The plant forms mats by spreading stolons and sprouting new stems. The flower heads are lined with an outer layer of phyllaries
which are variable in color from white to red, green, or brown. The fruit is an achene
with a pappus
that helps it disperse on the wind
.
In Colorado this plant is an indicator
of overgrazing
and increases in frequency on heavily grazed land. It grows in disturbed habitat and a wide variety of ecosystem
s and soil types.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common names Nuttall's pussytoes and small-leaf pussytoes (not to be confused with littleleaf pussytoes
Antennaria microphylla
Antennaria microphylla is a stoloniferous perennial forb in the Aster family . It grows from with spoon shaped or oblong leaves; it blossoms from late May to July...
). It is native to North America, where it occurs throughout much of Canada from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the western and central United States, and northern Mexico. It has not been observed in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
since 1987.
This plant generally grows a few centimeters high but it may reach 15 centimeters. The grayish, woolly-haired leaves are up to 3.5 centimeters long, the upper ones shorter and narrower than the basal. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
contains 2 to 7 flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
. The plant may be gynoecious
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
, containing only female flowers, or dioecious
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
, with some female plants and some male in a given population. Dioecious plants are most common in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and can reproduce sexually
Sexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction is the creation of a new organism by combining the genetic material of two organisms. There are two main processes during sexual reproduction; they are: meiosis, involving the halving of the number of chromosomes; and fertilization, involving the fusion of two gametes and the...
, though male plants are much less common than female. Plants in most other areas are mostly gynoecious, reproducing via apomixis
Apomixis
In botany, apomixis was defined by Winkler as replacement of the normal sexual reproduction by asexual reproduction, without fertilization. This definition notably does not mention meiosis...
. The plant forms mats by spreading stolons and sprouting new stems. The flower heads are lined with an outer layer of phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
which are variable in color from white to red, green, or brown. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
with a pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
that helps it disperse on the wind
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
.
In Colorado this plant is an indicator
Indicator species
An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change...
of overgrazing
Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, or by overpopulations of native or non-native wild animals.Overgrazing reduces the...
and increases in frequency on heavily grazed land. It grows in disturbed habitat and a wide variety of ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s and soil types.