Cat’s-foot (Antennaria dioica, Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 410 (1791))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: (L.) Gaertn.

Bibliography: Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 410 (1791)

Year: 1791

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Antennaria

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Eurasia, Aleutian Is.

Description

Cat’s-foot, scientifically recognized as Antennaria dioica, is a captivating plant species belonging to the Asteraceae family. The plant’s name evokes images of delicate, paw-like flowers that are characteristic of its appearance. It was first described in the literature in 1791 in Gaertner’s “Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 410,” authenticated by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus with the author abbreviation (L.) Gaertn.

In its natural habitat, Cat’s-foot is predominantly found throughout temperate regions of Eurasia and extends to the Aleutian Islands, showcasing a remarkable adaptability to its environment. This perennial herb is slender in stature and often found in dry, grassy places, indicative of its ability to thrive in less fertile soils.

Antennaria dioica exhibits a distinctive dioecious reproductive system, meaning that it has separate male and female plants. This unique characteristic contributes to its botanical intrigue, as it relies on cross-pollination for the propagation of its species. The small, woolly flowers, usually white or pink, form compact clusters resembling the soft pads of a cat’s foot, hence its common name. These flower heads are supported by rosettes of gray-green, basal leaves that form dense mats, creating a ground-covering effect.

The plant’s modest yet charming appearance makes it a favored choice for rock gardens and naturalized lawns. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Cat’s-foot also holds ecological significance, providing a source of nectar for various insects including butterflies and bees, which are vital for ecosystem health.

Overall, Antennaria dioica, or Cat’s-foot, stands as a testament to botanical marvels, with its intriguing reproductive strategy, widespread habitat range, and subtle beauty, making it a memorable member of the diverse Asteraceae family.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig kattefod, kattefod
Deu: gewöhnliches katzenpfötchen, zweihaüsiges katzenpflötchen
Eng: stoloniferous pussytoes, cat’s-foot, mountain everlasting, pussytoes, rose pussytoes, common catsfoot
Swe: ahokissankäpälä, kattfot, vanlig kattfot
Fin: ahokissankäpälä
Nob: kattefot
Nno: kattefot
Fra: patte de chat, pied de chat, pied-de-chat
Nld: rozenkransje
Cym: edafeddog fynyddig, edafeddog ysgaredig, edafeddog y mynydd, edelweiss gwyddelig, pawen y gath, troed y gath
En: Cat’s-foot, Rose pussytoes, Mountain everlasting, Pussytoes, Stoloniferous pussytoes, Common Catsfoot, Cat’s Foot, Catsfoot, Cudweed, Mountain-everlasting
Ar: أنتينارية شائعة
Ba: Бесәйтабан
Be: Агаткі двухдомныя
Bg: Витошки еделвайс
Ca: Pota de gat
Zh: 蝶须
Cs: Kociánek dvoudomý
Da: Almindelig Kattefod, Kattefod
Nl: Rozenkransje
Et: Harilik kassikäpp
Fi: Ahokissankäpälä
Fr: Patte de chat, Pied de chat, Pied-de-chat, Antennaire dioïque, Pied-de-chat dioïque, Cotonnière immortelle, Herbe blanche, Hispidule, Oeil-de-chien, Patte-de-chat, Petite Piloselle, Piéchatier, Piloselle blanche, Pied de chat dioïque, Gnaphale dioïque
De: Gewöhnliches Katzenpfötchen, Zweihaüsiges Katzenpflötchen, Bergruhrkraut, Gemeines Katzenpfötchen, Katzendapplein
It: Antennaria, Bambagia selvetica, Piè di gatto, Sempiterni di montagna
Kk: Қосүйлі мысықтабан
Ku: Giyabenîşt
Lv: Divmāju kaķpēdiņa
Lt: Dvinamė katpėdė
No: Kattefot
Nb: Kattefot
Nn: Kattefot
Pl: Ukwap dwupienny
Ru: Кошачья лапка двудомная
Sr: Срцопуц
Sk: Plešivec dvojdomý
Es: Cola de fuina, Pelegrina, Pie de gato
Sv: Kattfot, Ahokissankäpälä, Vanlig kattfot
Zh-tw: 蝶鬚
Zh-hant: 蝶須
Uk: Котячі лапки дводомні
Cy: Edafeddog y mynydd, Edafeddog Fynyddig, Edafeddog Ysgaredig, Edelweiss Gwyddelig, Pawen y Gath, Troed y Gath

Synonyms

• Antennaria hyperborea (D.Don)
• Margaritaria simplex (Opiz)
• Antennaria montana var. lanata (Gray)
• Antennaria dioica f. ramosa (Brenner)
• Antennaria montana var. rubra (Gray)
• Antennaria hibernica (Braun-Blanq.)
• Antennaria dioica var. gallica (E.G.Camus)
• Antennaria montana (Gray)
• Antennaria zosonia (H.S.Pak)
• Antennaria dioica var. hyperborea ((D.Don) DC.)
• Antennaria dioica var. congesta (DC.)
• Gnaphalium dioicum (L.)
• Antennaria dioica var. borealis (E.G.Camus)
• Gnaphalium hyberboreum (Winch ex DC.)
• Antennaria dioica var. discolor (Rouy)
• Antennaria foenina (H.S.Pak)
• Cyttarium dioicum ((L.) Peterm.)
• Gnaphalium pes-cati (Garsault)
• Antennaria nigritella (H.S.Pak)
• Chamaezelum dioicum ((L.) Link)
• Antennaria insulensis (H.S.Pak)
• Antennaria insularis (Greene)
• Antennaria parviflora (Nutt.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Aleutian Is. (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 21, 2020 by Víctor Huete (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2016 by Henk Van Lottum (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 25, 2021 by Lucas Filleur (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2016 by Henk Van Lottum (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Robert Klink (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Nov 3, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 3, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Fabienne PAIRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Fabienne PAIRE (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 19, 2022 by Julien Champ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2018 by Nadine Castel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Claude FIGUREAU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Claude FIGUREAU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 13, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2000 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2000 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Hugues TINGUY (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5385604)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30111520-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Antennaria dioica (L.) Gaertn.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 5.0

Ph minimum: 4.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’]

Soil nutriments: 2