# Phagnalon sordidum

Phagnalon sordidum is a unique plant with fuzzy leaves and pretty yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in fields and along roadsides, making it a cheerful sight in nature.

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

![Phagnalon sordidum](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/78681978/medium.jpeg)

Photo: Yves Bas, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/78681978)

## Appearance

The Phagnalon sordidum is a small, bushy plant with silvery-grey, woolly leaves, giving it a soft, dusty appearance. It produces clusters of tiny, button-like yellow flowers, often blooming at the tips of its branches. Its muted colors help it blend into arid, rocky landscapes.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- It's a Mediterranean native, loving warm, dry climates and bright sunshine!
- Its name 'sordidum' refers to its dull, dusty-looking foliage, not that it's actually dirty!
- The tiny seeds of Phagnalon sordidum are often dispersed by wind, travelling to new locations.
- This hardy plant thrives in places with very little soil, often growing right out of rocks.

## Special abilities

- **Dusty Shield:** Phagnalon sordidum has dense, woolly hairs on its leaves that reflect sunlight and trap moisture, helping it survive in very dry, sunny places.
- **Rock Gripper:** Phagnalon sordidum can grow in rocky crevices, using its strong roots to anchor itself and find moisture where other plants cannot.
- **Resurrection Power:** Phagnalon sordidum can regrow from its base even after being cut back or experiencing harsh conditions, ensuring its survival.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helps spread pollen between plants
- **Shelter:** [common blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — May use its dense growth for nesting cover

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [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 touch plants without asking an adult, as some can be prickly or cause allergies.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Phagnalon sordidum?

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 Phagnalon sordidum?

10-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Phagnalon sordidum?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Phagnalon sordidum bloom?

Spring_summer

### Is Phagnalon sordidum edible?

No

### Is Phagnalon sordidum toxic?

None

### What is Phagnalon sordidum's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Phagnalon sordidum pollinated?

Insect

## 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*)

---

Source: [Phagnalon sordidum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/phagnalon-sordidum)