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

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Thayne Tuason     (Photo ID #76366)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Antennaria dimorpha
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

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.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

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

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

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
716 250 2465
Slope Gradient (%)
18 0 170

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

195 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# 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)

Habitat and 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.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

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.