# Pale Tasselflower (*Emilia praetermissa*)

The Pale Tasselflower is a pretty little flower with soft, fluffy seeds. It grows in sunny places and adds a splash of color to fields and gardens, making nature look even more beautiful!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Pale Tasselflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Emilia_praetermissa_Bioko_2013.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emilia_praetermissa_Bioko_2013.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pale Tasselflower is a delicate, slender herb with upright stems and narrow leaves. It has small, airy flower heads, typically appearing in shades of pale pink, lavender, or white, which transform into fluffy, dandelion-like seed clusters.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Emilia

## Interesting facts

- Each fluffy flower head is actually a cluster of many tiny individual flowers, called florets.
- It's sometimes called "Flora's Paintbrush" because its dainty flowers resemble tiny art brushes!
- The plant’s scientific name, Emilia, honors an Italian noblewoman from the 17th century!
- This small plant can pop up as a harmless weed in gardens, fields, and even cracks in pavement!

## Special abilities

- **Wind Sailor Seeds:** Pale Tasselflower has parachute-like seeds that help it fly on the wind, spreading far and wide to new growing spots.
- **Rapid Growth Cycle:** Pale Tasselflower can grow quickly from seed to flower in just a few weeks, helping it finish its life cycle fast.
- **Soil Adaptability:** Pale Tasselflower has strong roots and grows well even in poor or disturbed soils, helping it survive tough conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-60 cm
- **Spread:** 10-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round in warm climates, summer-fall elsewhere
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen for its colony
- **Pollinates:** [Common Buckeye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buckeye) (*Junonia coenia*) — sips nectar, transferring pollen between flowers
- **Eaten by:** Oriental Leafworm Moth (*Spodoptera litura*) — larvae feed on leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy their beauty!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pale Tasselflower?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Pale Tasselflower?

20-60 cm

### How wide does Pale Tasselflower spread?

10-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Pale Tasselflower?

1-2 cm

### When does Pale Tasselflower bloom?

Year-round in warm climates, summer-fall elsewhere

### Is Pale Tasselflower edible?

No

### Is Pale Tasselflower toxic?

None

### What is Pale Tasselflower's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Dolphin Research Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dolphin-research-center) — Florida, US · Zoo

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Pale Tasselflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pale-tasselflower)