Appearance
It is an erect herbaceous biennial up to 70 cm tall, branching from the base. Leaves are oblanceolate to lanceolate and covered in hairs like that of the edelweiss. The leaves can survive frozen over in winter. Flowers are cream, yellow, white, or pink. Seeds have a pappus which lets them float over long distances.Distribution
This species is so widely distributed that it is unclear where it is native and where naturalised. In general it is considered naturalised in North and South America, and native to every other continent except Antarctica.Habitat
It grows in meadows, wastelands, and edges of forests. Its rosettes are occasionally mistaken for edelweiss.Uses
In Vietnam, the plant is used as a food ingredient, such as in the rice cake ''banh khuc''. It has also been used in traditional medicine of the region, as a diuretic, hemostatic, antipyretic, for the treatment of cough, and for pain relief.References:
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