Fauna
Flower · GBIF taxon 3094306

Pityopsis graminifolia

Pityopsis graminifolia

Also 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
Pityopsis graminifolia reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceJames H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org / CC BY 3.0 us · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
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)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusPityopsis
  4. SpeciesPityopsis graminifolia
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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