About Antennaria parlinii Fernald
Antennaria parlinii Fernald is an herb that grows up to 45 centimetres (18 inches) tall. This species is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants; some populations consist entirely of female plants. Its white flowers bloom from April to June, with 4 to 12 or more flower heads arranged in a cluster at the top of the stems. Its common name refers to the fact that its flowers resemble a cat’s toes. Basal leaves of Antennaria parlinii measure 2.5–9.5 centimetres (1–3.75 inches) long and can grow up to 4.4 centimetres (1.75 inches) wide. This species looks very similar to Antennaria plantaginifolia, also called plantain leaf pussytoes, but the flowers of A. parlinii are larger. This species is distributed across Canada in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and across the United States in the entire Central and Eastern United States with the exception of Florida. It grows in dry, rocky areas in conditions from full sun to partial shade, and prefers acid soil.
