Alternate name: Littleleaf Pussytoes

Family: Asteraceae, Aster view all from this family

Description From a small, grayish basal rosette rises an erect, sparsely-leaved flower stalk with clusters of small, rayless, whitish flower heads.
Flowers: heads nearly 1/2" (1.3 cm) long, the translucent, scale-like bracts barely darkened at the base.
Leaves: 1/2-3/4" (1.3-2 cm) long, equally hairy on both sides, those in rosettes lanceolate but obviously broader near the top, those on the flower stalk much narrower.
Fruit: seed-like, with 5 white bristles at top.
Height: to 6" (15 cm).

Flower July-September.

Habitat Dry forest openings, plains.

Range From western Canada to eastern Washington and through the Rocky Mountains and the western Plains to Arizona and New Mexico.

Discussion Some plants in this species produce seed in the usual manner, by fertilization of eggs in the ovary; others do not require fertilization. The tightly clustered basal leaves and the near absence of dark bases on the bracts of the flower heads help distinguish Nuttall's Pussytoes from other members of this large genus.