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Field pussytoes flowerheads are either pistillate (female) or staminate (male), both about 8 mm long, both looking like a compact tuft of white hairs. The very similar plantain-leafed pussytoes (A. plantaginifolia) looks much the same but has basal leaves with three main veins (best viewed from the underside) rather than one.

Antennaria

Antennaria neglecta

field pussytoes [Blooms: Apr-May]

Plantain-leafed pussytoes is a short (6" tall) plant. The basal leaves are 2" wide and 3.5" long, spoon-shaped with long petioles, grayish green, with 3-5 conspicuous main veins; the lower surface is densely covered with appressed hairs and is shiny white. Individual plantain-leafed pussytoe plants bear either male or female flowers exclusively. Flowerheads are short (<1/2" long) and composed exclusively of white disc florets surrounded by a layer of phyllaries; female florets are fluffy white from the profusion of styles (looking a bit like Q-Tips) while male florets show tubular, brownish anthers. Asexual reproduction may produce colonies of exclusively male or female plants. The similar field pussytoes has basal leaves with only a single (rather than 3-5) main veins.

Antennaria

Antennaria plantaginifolia

plaintain-leafed pussytoes [Blooms: Apr-May]