Annuals (viscid and unpleasantly aromatic), 30-100 cm; taprooted. Stems persistently white-tomentose and stipitate-glandular. Leaf blades (crowded, internodes mostly 1-3, sometimes to 10, mm) linear-lanceolate, (2-)4-8 cm × 3-10 mm, bases not clasping, usually (at least the proximal) decurrent 3-10 mm, margins strongly revolute to revolute-undulate, faces bicolor, abaxial densely white-tomentose, adaxial densely stipitate-glandular. Heads in corymbiform arrays. Involucres campanulate, 5-6 mm. Phyllaries in 5-6 series, tawny-silvery to silvery white (hyaline, shiny), ovate-lanceolate (not keeled or thickened along midribs, not apiculate), glabrous. Pistillate florets 200-250. Bisexual florets (13-)16-29. Cypselae not ridged, papillate-roughened. 2n = 28.

Flowering Jul-Sep. Rocky open sites, roadsides; 1400-1800 m; Tex.; Mexico; Central America.

Reports of Pseudognaphalium viscosum from the flora for states other than Texas are based on plants of P. macounii. Pseudognaphalium viscosum is similar to P. leucocephalum, which has broader and white-opaque phyllaries, longer bisexual corollas, and smooth cypselae.

Duration: Annual

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Herbaceous annuals to biennils, to 100 cm tall, herbage woolly, viscid and unpleasantly aromatic.

Leaves: Alternate, crowded, linear-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long and 3-10 mm wide, bases not clasping, usually decurrent, margins strongly revolute to revolute-undulate, faces bicolor, densely stipitate-glandular, undersides densely white-tomentose.

Flowers: Heads discoid, outer disk flowers slender and pistillate, the inner ones coarser and perfect, receptacles naked, involucres campanulate, 5-6 mm, phyllaries in 5-6 series, tawny-silvery to silvery white membranaceous, shiny, ovate, glabrous, the heads borne in corymbiform arrays.

Fruits: Achenes not ridged but warty. Pappus of capillary bristles.

Ecology: Found in rocky, open areas and roadsides, from 4,500-6,000 ft (1372-1829 m); flowering July-September.

Distribution: Texas; Mexico.

Ethnobotany: A poultice of the leaves were used for swelling, and a decoction of the leaves was taken for colds or stomach troubles.

Etymology: Pseudognaphalium is false gnaphalium, the former genus name, while viscosum means sticky.

Synonyms: Gnaphalium viscosum

Editor: LCrumbacher 2011