# Hoary Tansyaster

*Dieteria canescens*

The common name 'hoary' refers to the sticky, white, cobwebby hairs on its leaves and stems, which act as a natural sunscreen and windbreak.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Dieteria
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Dry plains, sagebrush steppes, and sandy desert slopes
- **Diet:** Photosynthetic (requires sunlight, water, and soil nutrients)
- **Range:** Western North America, Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert
- **Size:** 10 to 100 cm tall
- **Lifespan:** 1-3 years (biennial or short-lived perennial)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat loss from urban development, invasive grasses, and severe overgrazing.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. This wildflower poses no threat to humans. Enjoy its vibrant purple blooms from a respectful distance to avoid trampling the fragile soil crusts of its arid habitat. It is non-toxic to touch.

## About

Dieteria canascens (formerly Machaeranthera canescens ) is an annual plant or short lived perennial plant in the (daisy family), known by the common names hoary tansyaster and hoary-aster .

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/abf0ddc0-217d-4505-8ba3-7e37f3ed4237
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/76655
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieteria canescens
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/175949800/medium.jpg (Matt Lavin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.