PEARLY EVERLASTING 



is the result of many white, cottony hairs which cover 



stem and leaves, giving a felted surface to both. The 



leaves are lanceolate in shape, the midrib conspicu- 

 ously white. They narrow to a clasping base and hug 



the stem, greenish gray above and white beneath. 

 The Httle, white bud-balls are 



made of many dry, overlapping 



scales, and as summer wanes these 



little balls open with the result of 



many globose flower-heads, borne 



in small groups that are gathered 



into terminal, slightly rounded or 



flat- topped clusters. After the 



heads open one sees that the pearly 



scales enclose and protect a Httle 



tuft of fuzzy, tubular florets. The 



florets of one plant are all alike, 



but those of a plant near by may 



be quite different, for the species 



is dioecious, that is, the staminate 

 and pistillate flowers are borne on 

 separate and different plants. In 

 time the centres become brownish 

 and finally, after one group has 

 lost its pollen and the other has 

 matured its seeds, the plants stand waving their white 

 plumes to autumn, well on her way. This Everlasting 

 is abundant from August to October. The white felt 

 which covers leaves and stems renders it immune from 

 grazing animals. Growing as it does in poor soil and 

 dry pastures, it has so Httle juice that it retains its 

 form when dry, so that the wanderer coming cityward 

 from summer journeyings will see its white flag over the 



267 



Pearly Everlasting. 

 Andplialis margaritdcea 



