Winterfat

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Winterfat

Winterfat leaves

Winterfat infloresence

Winterfat flowers

Winterfat

Winterfat

Morphology

Stem

Shrubs, monoecious. Stems erect, usually branched basally, densely white- or golden-brown-tomentose with some stellate hairs.

Leaves

Cauline, alternate, simple; petiole 1/16 to 1/7 inch; blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2/5 to 1.6 inch long, 1/16 to 1/6 inch wide, base truncate, margins entire, revolute, tip obtuse, without spine-like bristle, densely white- or golden-brown-tomentose with some stellate hairs.

Inflorescence

Spikes or small, dense, head-like clusters of 2-8 minute flowers, axillary; bracts 0 with staminate flowers, 2 with pistillate flowers, ovate, 1/6 to 1/3 inch, densely hirsute, without spine-like bristle at tip.

Flower

Flowers unisexual, petals absent. Staminate flowers: tepals 4, united basally, white, lobes ovate, 1/50 to 1/25 inch, apex acute, woolly outside, glabrous inside; stamens 4. Pistillate flowers: tepals 0, pistil enclosed in bracteoles; style 0; stigmas 2.

Fruit

Utricles, flattened-ovoid, 1/10 to 1/7 inch, enclosed in 2 bracts; bracts covered with dense tufts of long, white hairs; seeds brown, flattened-obovoid, 1/12 to 1/10 inch.

Ecology

Habitat

Mixed-grass and short-grass prairies

Distribution

North half of west 1/6 of Kansas

Practical Information

Forage Value

Provides good winter forage for sheep, pronghorn antelope, elk, and mule deer.

Uses

Native Americans took a decoction of leaves for fevers, used the decoction as a hair wash, and used the cold decoction as a wash for sore eyes; treated burns with the powdered roots; and applied a poultice of chewed leaves to poison ivy rash.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.