Flower · GBIF taxon 3094306
Pityopsis graminifolia
Pityopsis graminifoliaAlso known as Silkgrass, Silver Aster
Narrowleaf silkgrass blankets open southern pinelands with slender, grasslike leaves wrapped in dense silvery hairs that reflect intense heat and conserve moisture. Bright golden composite flower heads erupt in late summer and autumn, offering crucial late-season nectar to native bees and migrating butterflies. Vigorously resprouting from underground rhizomes following periodic low-intensity wildfires, it serves as a resilient pioneer in nutrient-poor sandy soils.
PerennialWildflowerDrought-Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- White-Tailed Deer
- Gopher Tortoise
- Grasshoppers
ThreatsFire suppression, habitat conversion, and urban development
HabitatsLongleaf pine savannas, coastal sandhills, open flatwoods, and sandy roadsides
Life spanPerennial (5–15+ years via rhizomes)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusPityopsis
- SpeciesPityopsis graminifolia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Sunlight Exposure: Look for its foliage shimmering in direct sun, where silky white hairs scatter intense light.
- Autumn Flowering: Search for bright yellow daisy-like blooms from late summer through late autumn.
- Habitat Clues: Check dry, open sandy patches alongside pine needle litter after prescribed burns.
Frequent Companion (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Herbivore Judy Gallagher / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Frequent Companion no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Same Family no rights reserved, uploaded by Becky Dill · cc0
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