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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