E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Antennaria dimorpha (Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray
low pussytoes
Asteraceae (Aster family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Thayne Tuason  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #76366)

E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Antennaria dimorpha
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a compact, much-branched woody base, forming small mats but not stoloniferous; stems ascending, several, simple, silky woolly-hairy, 1-10 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves linear or oblanceolate, stalked, 0.8-4 cm long including the stalks, 1.5-5 mm wide, silky woolly-hairy; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Heads solitary, terminal; involucres of 2 types, the female ones 10-18 mm tall, inner involucral bracts lanceolate, the outer bracts broadly oblanceolate, tinged, at least in part, brown or reddish-brown, thinly woolly-hairy below, the male ones 5-9 mm tall, involucral bracts marginally or apically colorless and more or less translucent, otherwise dingy blackish-green or brownish; female flowers 8-10 mm tall, the male ones 3-5 mm tall.
Fruits:
Achenes elliptic, 2-3.5 mm long, finely short-hairy; pappus white with hairlike bristles, these finely-barbed upwards, 10-12 mm tall.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Purple
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer
Source:  The USDA

Habitat / Range

Dry grasslands, shrublands and forest openings in the steppe and lower montane zones; frequent in SC BC, E to SK, S to NE, CO and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Antennaria dimorpha

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 250 716 2465
Slope Gradient (%) 0 18 170
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
0 195 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
0 2 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
604
Modal BEC Zone Class
BG
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: AT(1), BG(289), BWBS(1), ESSF(5), ICH(1), IDF(123), PP(145)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Antennaria dimorpha var. integra L.F. Hend.
Antennaria dimorpha var. latisquama (Piper) M. Peck
Antennaria dimorpha var. macrocephala D.C. Eaton
Antennaria latisquama Piper
Antennaria macrocephala (D.C. Eaton) Rydb.
Gnaphalium dimorphum Nutt.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References