Mountain Everlasting

Common Name: Mountain everlasting

Latin Name: Antennaria dioica

Family: Asteraceae

When studying this group of plants it will become apparent that not all inflorescences are the same shape and colour. This is because male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The male flowers are akin to daisies with pink centres; the female flowers are pink throughout. This characteristic of producing male and female flowers on different plants is signified by the Latin species name dioica, and plants like this are termed dioecious. The plant is covered with a soft white woolly hair. This has earned the plant its other common name of Cat’s-foot.

This is an uncommon plant in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It can grow at any altitude in the short turf of limestone grassland or on rocky ledges. The plant is susceptible to grazing and has suffered a decline in recent years; this is probably a result of changes in agriculture.