PEARLY EVERLASTING 
(Compositae) 
Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Benth. & Hooker 
A white-tomentose or woolly perennial herb, the erect leafy stem corym- 
bosely branched at the summit, 1-3 feet high. The alternate, entire leaves 
linear-lanceolate, sessile, revolute, green but pubescent above and woolly 
beneath, 3-5 inches long, heads of flowers numerous in a compound corymb, 
2-8 inches broad, each head one-quarter to one-third inch broad when 
expanded; involucre campanulate, its bracts ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, pearly 
white; flowers cream-colored becoming yellowish; staminate flowers with a 
slender or filiform corolla, an undivided style and pappus bristles not thick- 
ened at the summit or scarcely so; pistillate flowers with a tubular 5-toothed 
corolla, 2-cleft style and a pappus of distinct capillary bristles which fall away 
separately. 
Rather common in dry soil, especially on abandoned fields, old pastures, 
roadsides and door yards, and open woods from Newfoundland to Alaska, 
Pennsylvania, Kansas and Oregon. Flowering from August to October. 
The dry chaffy character of the involucre of the flowers suggests the 
appropriate name of everlasting. Clusters may be gathered and placed in 
a vase or other receptacle without water and kept for an indefinite length 
of time. They are sometimes subjected to various dyes but it is doubtful 
if this adds anything to their attractiveness. In florists shops they are 
frequently seen dyed a brilliant red. 
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