American Everlasting
Gamochaeta americana
The dense, white, cobwebby hairs covering the plant act as a natural sunscreen and prevent moisture loss in dry environments.
- Scientific name
- Gamochaeta americana
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Gamochaeta
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open fields, pastures, roadsides, disturbed soils, and grassy forest margins.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis via sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- 10 to 40 cm in height
- Lifespan
- 1 to 2 years (annual or biennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Intensive agricultural tilling, excessive herbicide use, and invasive turf grasses.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely touch its soft, felt-like leaves. Avoid trampling wild patches, and do not ingest wild plants unless absolutely certain of their identity and lack of chemical runoff.
Gamochaeta americana , also known as American everlasting , is a plant in the family Asteraceae.
Photo: kcthetc1, CC0, via iNaturalist
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