Field Pussytoes

Antennaria neglecta is a sexual progenitor of both the A. howellii and A. parvifolia polyploid complexes and has one of the more widespread ranges among the amphimictic species in the genus in North America. Amphimicts generally have small ranges compared to those of the polyploid agamic complexes derived from them. Characteristic features of A. neglecta are its lashlike stolons that bear reduced leaves (except at the ends), flags on the distal cauline leaves, and basal leaves that are green-glabrescent with age (R. J. Bayer and G. L. Stebbins 1982).

Dioecious. Plants 4–25 cm. Stolons 2.5–18 cm. Basal leaves: 1-nerved, narrowly spatulate to cuneate-oblanceolate, 15–65 × 6–18 mm, tips mucronate, faces abaxially tomentose, adaxially gray-pubescent (green-glabrescent with age). Cauline leaves linear, 1.5–25 mm, distal flagged. Heads (1–)2–8 in corymbiform to spiciform or racemiform arrays. Involucres: staminate 4–7 mm; pistillate 6–10 mm. Phyllaries distally white. Corollas: staminate 2.7–5 mm; pistillate 4.5–6.5(–7) mm. Cypselae 0.9–1.4 mm, minutely papillate; pappi: staminate 3.5–6.5 mm; pistillate 6–8.5(–9.5) mm. 2n = 28.

Antennaria athabascensis Greene; A. campestris Rydberg; A. campestris var. athabascensis (Greene) B. Boivin; A. chelonica Lunell; A. erosa Greene; A. howellii Greene var. athabascensis (Greene) B. Boivin; A. howellii var. campestris (Rydberg) B. Boivin; A. longifolia Greene; A. lunellii Greene; A. nebrascensis Greene; A. neglecta Greene var. athabascensis (Greene) Roy L. Taylor & MacBryde; A. neglecta var. campestris (Rydberg) Steyermark; A. neglecta var. simplex Peck; A. parvula Greene; A. wilsonii Greene

Antennaria neglecta is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common name field pussytoes. It is widespread across much of Canada (including Northwest Territories plus all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador) as well as the northeastern and north-central United States.

Antennaria neglecta is an herb up to 25 cm (10 inches) tall with as many as 8 flowering heads per plant. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, some populations being composed entirely of female plants.