62. Pseudognaphalium Kirp. (cudweed, everlasting)
Plants annual or
biennial, unbranched or more commonly few-branched from the base and
few-branched to moderately branched toward the tip, with taproots, usually
slightly to strongly aromatic with a resinous odor when crushed or bruised.
Stems erect or ascending, densely pubescent with woolly hairs, at least toward
the tip, sometimes also glandular. Basal leaves occasionally present at
flowering, broader but not noticeably longer than the lower stem leaves,
oblanceolate to spatulate, rounded to broadly and bluntly pointed at the tip,
often with 3 main veins. Stem leaves numerous, sessile, linear to narrowly
oblanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, mostly sharply pointed at the tip,
truncate or slightly tapered at the base, the margins entire and sometimes
finely wavy, the upper surface appearing green, sparsely pubescent with
cobwebby to woolly hairs, also with scattered, minute, stalked glands, the
undersurface densely white-woolly. Inflorescences relatively broad panicles,
the individual heads sessile or more commonly and noticeably short-stalked.
Heads with the marginal florets pistillate, the central florets perfect.
Involucre 5–8 mm long, narrowly ovoid to cup-shaped, often appearing
bell-shaped when pressed, the bracts in 5–7 overlapping series, appressed to
loosely appressed, oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate or ovate, rounded to bluntly
or sharply pointed at the tip, the inner few series sometimes irregularly
truncate, with dense, woolly hairs toward the base, usually white to
straw-colored, rarely faintly pinkish- or purplish-tinged, shiny. Receptacle
flat or somewhat convex, naked. Corollas white to more commonly yellow,
sometimes purplish-tinged at the tip. Pappus of numerous capillary bristles,
these mostly free at the base and shed individually or in small groups, minutely
toothed. Fruits 0.6–0.9 mm long, narrowly oblong-obovoid, slightly flattened,
the surface appearing smooth, yellowish brown to greenish brown, sometimes
somewhat shiny. About 80 species, nearly worldwide, but most diverse in Central
America and South America.
The segregation
of Pseudognaphalium from Gnaphalium has been somewhat
controversial (Arriagada, 1998). The modern concept of these genera initially
was suggested by Hilliard and Burtt (1981) and subsequently was refined by
Anderberg (1991, 1994). However, there is no single derived character that
separates the two, and it has been argued that the details of involucral bract
morphology and other minor features that have been used in combination to
separate the genera are insufficient for the purpose. In the belief that
further, more detailed study probably will show increased support for Pseudognaphalium
and because the genus will be accepted in the forthcoming treatment for the
Flora of North America Project, it is accepted here as well.
The basal
rosettes of particularly P. obtusifolium may be confused with those of Antennaria
parlinii. Although in both species the upper surface may appear glabrous or
nearly so at maturity, the leaves of Pseudognaphalium differ in their
scattered, minute, stalked glands. Also, a fourth species of Pseudognaphalium
eventually may be collected in Missouri, as it has been documented in Illinois
(historically) and Tennessee. Pseudognaphalium macounii (Greene) Kartesz
differs from the species known thus far from Missouri in having its leaves
extending down the stem from the main attachment point as two short, narrow
wings of tissue.
Steyermark
(1963) noted that plants of this genus provide food for Missouri's turkeys and
deer, and that in folk medicine the leaves were boiled in milk as a remedy for
flux (the abnormal bodily discharge of fluid; diarrhea).