Japanese name: ハハコグサ（母子草） Scientific name:Pseudognaphalium affine
[Overview]
A biennial 15–40 cm tall, growing in vacant lots and by roadsides.
The stems grow in tufts, forming clumps, and are covered with white cottony hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblanceolate, 2–6 cm long.
Both surfaces of the leaves are densely covered with cottony hairs and are white.
Flower heads are clustered at the branch tips.
The involucre of the flower is yellow and conspicuous.
The fruit is an achene with a yellowish-white pappus.
[Uses]
It is gogyo, one of the Seven Herbs of Spring, and the young leaves are eaten.
This plant was originally used for the herb rice cakes (kusa-mochi) made for the festival on March 3.
The whole plant is used medicinally.
[Notes]
The very similar Aki-no-hahakogusa often branches in the upper part of the stem, and the leaf surface is green.
