Silver pussytoes facts for kids
{{Speciesbox |genus = Antennaria |species = argentea |authority = Benth. |synonyms_ref=
|synonyms=
- Antennaria luzuloides var. argentea (Benth.) A.Gray
}
Antennaria argentea, often called silver pussytoes or silvery everlasting, is a unique flowering plant. It grows in North America and is part of the daisy family. This family includes many well-known flowers like sunflowers and dandelions. The plant gets its common names from its soft, woolly, silver-colored leaves.
Contents
All About Silver Pussytoes
Where Silver Pussytoes Live
This interesting plant is mostly found in Oregon and parts of California. You can also spot it in other western states. These include Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Washington.
Its Favorite Homes
Antennaria argentea likes to grow in dry places. It often lives in coniferous forests. These are forests with trees that have needles, like pine trees.
What Silver Pussytoes Look Like
Silver pussytoes is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It also has soft stems instead of woody ones.
Leaves and Stems
The plant forms a patch of leaves close to the ground. These leaves are oval-shaped and feel woolly. They are usually a few centimeters long. Many thin, straight stems grow up from this patch. These stems can reach about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of Antennaria argentea grow in clusters. These clusters are called flower heads. Each flower head has small, whitish leaf-like parts called phyllaries.
How Silver Pussytoes Reproduce
This plant is special because it is dioecious. This means that some plants are male and some are female. Male plants produce one type of flower. Female plants produce a different type of flower.
Making New Plants
After the female flowers are pollinated, they produce fruits. These fruits are called achenes. Each achene has a soft, feathery part called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind. This way, new silver pussytoes plants can grow in different places.
