Consider-the-Lilies Web Gallery
Sweet Everlasting
Unique in its appearance throughout its life cycle, this useful native wildflower, named Catfoot, Pussy Toes, or Rabbit Tobacco in different parts of the United States, appears in dry fields in August in the Shenandoah Valley.
In this early form, with its flowers closed, it is valued by florists as a distinctive dried flower in arrangements, because it can be dried without losing its color or shape—and is easily dyed to meet a need for a particular shade.
Found as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as Florida, this genus, or other members of the Gnaphalium family, are found in dry, open areas across the continent.
It is a fragrant herb with medicinal properties that were used by the Menominee Indians, among others. The first settlers were taught by this tribe that the fragrant smoke from burning its leaves was effectual in reviving people who had fainted.
The leaves were also chewed by this tribe to relieve mouth sores. And, what I found intriguing, is that this was another herb used for treatment of dysentery. As you may have noticed from my comments about alleged medicinal attributes of other herbs, most of them are reputed to be useful for the treatment of dysentery!
In early fall, the tightly coiled florets burst open to release their fertilized seeds to the wind.
Go to the Main Directory to consider more lilies of the field.