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Antennaria pulcherrima

(Hook.) Greene

Handsome Pussytoes

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143197

Element CodePDAST0H0L0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderAsterales

FamilyAsteraceae

GenusAntennaria

Synonyms

Antennaria pulcherrima ssp. pulcherrimaAntennaria pulcherrima var. pulcherrima

Other Common Names

Antennaire magnifique (FR) Showy Pussytoes (EN) showy pussytoes (EN)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Taxonomic Comments

This narrow treatment of Antennaria pulcherrima follows Kartesz (1994 and 1999) which treat Antennaria pulcherrima and A. eucosma as distinct species. The FNA (vol. 19, 2006) treatment includes A. eucosma as a subspecies of A. pulcherrima, therefore according to FNA, Kartesz's A. pulcherrima is equivalent to A. pulcherrima ssp. pulcherrima.

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2016-05-16

Change Date1999-05-20

Ecology & Habitat

Description

This perennial species has clustered stems 20-50 cm tall, from a loosely branched rootcrown. The lance-shaped basal leaves have petioles and are up to 15 cm long and 2 cm wide. The stem leaves are alternate, smaller and narrower, and the uppermost do not have petioles. The whole plant is densely whitehairy. The flowering heads are borne in a compact, rounded inflorescence. The individual heads are 5-8 mm high with involucral bracts that are hairy toward the greenish base. The upper portion of the bracts is dark brown or greenish-black.

Diagnostic Characteristics

This species is easily confused with A. lanata and A. anaphaloides. From the former A. pulcherrima differs in being consistently taller. From the latter it differs in having dark involucre bracts. Best to compare to numerous other specimens before making determination. A. anaphaloides and A. lanata almost always grow in well-drained soil, while A. pulcherrima almost always grows in wet meadows.

Other Nations (2)

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Ontario	S5	Yes
Saskatchewan	S4	Yes
Nunavut	SU	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Yukon Territory	S4	Yes
Alberta	S4	Yes
Manitoba	S4	Yes
Northwest Territories	SNR	Yes
Quebec	S3	Yes

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Alaska	S3	Yes
Utah	S1	Yes
Colorado	S3	Yes
Wyoming	S3	Yes
Montana	S4	Yes
Idaho	SNR	Yes
Washington	SNR	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

Wyoming (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Libby Flats	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	11,107
Sheep Mountain	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	17,626

References (2)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 19. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 6: Asteraceae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 579 pp.
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.