Omalotheca sylvatica

Family: Asteraceae Genus: Omalotheca Species: sylvatica

Synonyms: Gnaphalium spadiceum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum subvar. pumilum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. rectum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. angustifolium, Omalotheca sylvatica var. carpetana, Gnaphalium einseleanum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. elongatum, Gnaphalium mutabile, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. densiflorum, Filago sylvatica, Gamochaeta sylvatica, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. rariflorum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. procumbens, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. radiciflorum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. serotinum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum f. subspinum, Gnaphalium carpetanum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum subsp. rectum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. alpestre, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. atriceps, Omalotheca einseleana, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. latifolium, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. citrinum, Gnaphalium sophiae, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. montanum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. minus, Dasyanthus fuscus, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, Filago recta, Dasyanthus sylvaticus, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. acaule, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. pediophilum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. praecox, Synchaeta silvatica, Cyttarium silvaticum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. sericeum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. nanum, Omalotheca sylvatica subsp. carpetana, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. nigrescens, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. carpetanum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum var. pallidum, Helichrysum strictum, Gnaphalium alpigenum

Botanical Description

Omalotheca sylvatica (wood cudweed, heath cudweed; formerly Gnaphalium sylvaticum) is a slender, erect, perennial herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae) growing 8–60 cm tall from short stoloniferous runners and a fibrous rootstock. The unbranched flowering stem and the lance-shaped pointed leaves bear a distinctive woolly cover: the leaf upper surface is essentially hairless and dark green while the underside is densely white-woolly with appressed felted hairs. The basal and lower stem leaves are 2–8 cm long, single-veined, and gradually decrease in size up the stem. From July to September the plant produces a long, narrow, spike-like terminal inflorescence (sometimes occupying the upper half of the stem) of small clustered flower heads 5–7 mm long borne in the upper leaf axils; each head is composed of pale brown tubular florets enclosed by glossy involucral bracts with a pale green centre and broad chaffy brown papery margins. The fruit is a small ribbed achene topped with a tuft of slender pappus bristles. Widely distributed across temperate and boreal regions of Eurasia and North America, it grows on acidic sandy soils in heaths, open pine and birch woodland, forest clearings, and dry banks.

Native Region: Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Maine, Michigan, Netherlands, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New York, Newfoundland, North Caucasus, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Poland, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Romania, Sakhalin, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Tuva, Ukraine, Vermont, West Siberia, Wisconsin, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

17822

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.

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