This woolly little plant is common over most of the north country, on
heaths and sandy pastures and in upland districts; but you do not find
it in the south of England. It is in flower all summer.
The root of the Mountain Everlasting is like a thin brown worm lying on
the surface of the ground, and from this root, long, slender brown
threads go down into the ground and keep the flower steady.
The flowers resemble small woolly daisies. They grow in clusters of four
or more, at the end of the main stem, and each cluster has a short,
stiff stalk of its own.
These woolly daisies are made up of a great many tiny pink flower-tubes,
each with a ring of fine white hairs round it. These tubes are
surrounded by a double row of woolly, downy leaves which stand out like
the strap-shaped rays of the daisy.
Underneath these woolly rays is a green cup, made up of a double row of
narrow strap-shaped brown or green leaves, pressed close together.
The main stem rises straight and firm from the creeping root. It is
closely covered with white down, and at intervals it is clasped by
narrow, pointed green leaves. These leaves are dark green on the upper
side, but underneath they are covered with white woolly down.