Gnaphalieae is derived from the Greek gnaphalion, a plant with soft white leaves. Pussytoes (Antennaria) and Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis) are members of the Gnaphalieae. Characteristics of the Everlasting Tribe include wooly leaves with entire margins, heads of disk flowers, and white or brightly colored phyllaries. Cryptic characters include a pappus of barbellate or plumose bristles.

Antennaria

rosea

Rosy Pussytoes

Antennaria (Gr. antenna, stamens resemble insect antenna), the pussytoes, are ground hugging plants with rosettes of basal leaves. The leaves are usually whitish hairy. From the rosette a single flower stalk arises topped by an inflorescence composed of heads of disc flowers. The bracts (phyllaries) surrounding the disc flowers are white, brown, or red. Antennaria species readily hybridize so identification at the species level is difficult. Pussytoes are often found in Ponderosa or mixed conifer communities in open meadows among the trees.
Anaphalis

margaritacea

Pearly Everlasting

Pearly Everlasting resembles the pussytoes, Antennaria, but it is a larger plant with numerous stem leaves which are themselves up to several inches long. The above specimen was part of a large colony (six feet in diameter) growing in a 10,500 foot subalpine meadow near Summit Lake above Steamboat Springs, Colorado.