[Pussytoes: The Genus Antennaria in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Narrowleaf Pussytoes, Narrow-leaf Pussytoes, Narrowleaved Pussytoes

Antennaria stenophylla

Synonyms: Antennaria alpina var. stenophylla, Antennaria leucophaea

A close-up of the inflorescence of narrowleaf pussytoes as seen in moist areas in the swales in biscuit-swale country alongside upper Swale Canyon in Klickitat County.........April 23, 2010. The Involucral bracts are cark brown although the tips may be paler. The base of the outermost bracts may be have a few woolly hears as in this photo. The inflorescence is compact, generally measuring 8-15 mm wide.

Characteristics:

Narrow-leaf pussytoes is a perennial wildflower with many upright stems clustered in a compact space. The stems arise from 3-15 cm high and are noticeably leafy with alternating leaves. The herbage is noticeably silky-tomentose. The leaves are long, thin and linear in shape. The basal leaves range from 2-8 cm long and 1-2 mm wide while the numerous stem leaves are gradually reduced in size upwards along the stems.

The inflorescences are subcapitate cymes of several flower heads from 8-15 mm wide. The involucres are 4-6 mm high smooth to the base with light or dark brwon bracts which may be whitish towards the tip. Occasionally the bracts may be pinkish in color. The flowers are imperfect, with the staminate and pistillate flowers found on separate plants.

Habitat:

Narrow-leaf pussy-toes is a wildflower of open, moderately dry places both in the plains and within open woodlands.

Range:

Antennaria stenophylla is found in central and eastern Washington and Oregon and east across the Snake River Plains to Blaine County, Idaho.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found at an elevation of 2200' in the Columbia Hills north of Dallesport, WA and on flatlands around Swale Canyon (1600') several miles further north.

Additional views of narrowleaf pussytoes as seen in moist areas in the swales in biscuit-swale country alongside upper Swale Canyon in Klickitat County.........April 23, 2010. Note the rough base of the involucral bracts. The stems bear numerous linear leaves from 1-2 mm wide.

Additional close-up images of narrowleaf pussytoes as seen on public lands along the Bickleton Highway to the west of Rock Creek...........May 17, 2014.

Paul Slichter