Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
[Gnaphalium decurrens., G. macounii
Other common names
Macoun's rabbit tobacco
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Biennial or perennial
Height
To 32 inches
Riparian
No
Herbaceous annuals or biennials to perennials, to 32 inches tall, stems stout, branching above, herbage wooly, sweet-smelling; leaves alternate, not clasping, bright green above, gray below due to hairs; disc flowers only, outer flowers female.
Bright green, glandular-hairy upper leaf surfaces, lower surface very hairy; flower heads have a whirl of bracts below (involucre) that are in layers, disc flowers only; outer flowers slender and female, inner flowers not slender, perfect, all fertile.
Habitat
Dry, open habitats, pastures, open woods or edges, roadsides, and open coniferous forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5500
High elevation
10000
Flower Characteristics
Heads numerous with dense clusters of flowers (glomerules) at branch tips; disc flowers only, outer ones relatively large, slender and female, inner ones not slender, male and female, all fertile; bracts below flowers in 4 to 5 series, yellowish-brown.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Alternate, not crowded, lance-like to narrow, 3/4 to 5 inches long, not clasping but extending down the stem, bright green and glandular-hairy, very hairy below, the margins smooth.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Bright green, gray green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes not ridged but are warty, topped by capillary bristles.
Fruit type
Achene