''Anaphalis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of herbaceous and woody flowering plants within the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

, whose members are commonly known by the name pearl or pearly everlasting. There are around 110

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

with the vast majority being

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to central and southern Asia. There is one species native to North America that is fairly well known and popular in cultivation, namely the western pearly everlasting (''

Anaphalis margaritacea ''Anaphalis margaritacea'', commonly known as the western pearly everlasting or pearly everlasting, is an Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or ...

''). The name probably derives from the common practice of drying the flowers and stems for decorations through winter months. This plant was used extensively by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal purposes. Two of the species, '' A. javanica'' and '' A. longifolia'' can be found on mountainsides on the Island of

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

. ''Anaphalis javanica'', also known as the Javanese Edelweiss, is currently an endangered species. ; SpeciesThe Plant List, search for ''Anaphalis''
/ref>

References

External links

UVU Herbarium - Anaphalis
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q607018 Asteraceae genera