Alpine pussytoes
Antennaria alpina
Synonyms: Antennaria alpina var. ungavensis, Antennaria brunnescens, Antennaria columnaris, Antennaria stolonifera, Chamaezelum alpinum, Antennaria compacta, Antennaria alpina var. typica, Antennaria porsildii f. roseola, Antennaria arenicola, Antennaria foggii, Antennaria pedunculata, Antennaria cana, Antennaria longii, Antennaria borealis, Antennaria pallida, Gnaphalium alpinum, Gnaphalium dioicum var. alpicola, Antennaria alpina var. cana, Antennaria lapponica, Antennaria alpina var. canescens, Antennaria alpina var. compacta, Antennaria wiegandii, Gnaphalium alpinum var. elatius, Antennaria atriceps, Antennaria alpina var. glabrata, Antennaria labradorica, Antennaria canescens f. fastigiata, Antennaria alpina var. intermedia, Antennaria crymophila, Antennaria alpina f. latifolia, Antennaria vexillifera, Antennaria glabrata f. ramosa, Antennaria alpina subsp. canescens, Antennaria glabrata, Antennaria ungavensis, Antennaria bayardii, Antennaria canescens var. pseudoporsildii, Antennaria confusa, Antennaria friesiana subsp. compacta, Antennaria alpina var. ramosissima, Antennaria intermedia, Antennaria media subsp. compacta, Antennaria alpina var. stolonifera
Gallery
Botanical Description
Antennaria alpina, commonly known as alpine pussytoes or alpine everlasting, is a small, mat-forming, dioecious perennial herb of the family Asteraceae, with a circumboreal distribution across the arctic and alpine zones of North America, Europe and Asia, where it grows on tundra, stony slopes, rock crevices and dry alpine meadows. The plant rarely exceeds 5–20 cm in height and spreads by short, leafy stolons to form low cushions of basal leaf rosettes. The basal leaves are small, oblanceolate to spatulate, 0.8–2.5 cm long and 2–6 mm wide, with entire margins and an indumentum of dense, appressed grey-white woolly hairs on both surfaces (although the upper surface often becomes glabrate with age). Stem leaves are reduced, linear, and few. The flowering stems carry a small terminal cluster of three to seven heads, each 5–7 mm high, with imbricate involucral bracts that have dark greenish-brown or blackish bases and pale, papery white or pinkish tips. Florets are tubular, whitish, and dioecious — male and female on separate plants. Flowering occurs in summer.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.