Anaphalis margaritacea gender id

[Linda_Foulis]

Anaphalis are either male or female, but how do you tell the difference, is there a visible difference.
I came across two separate patches up in the hills, both of them quite large.   I have yet to find a single seed.  Google has not been able to tell me!
Is it reasonable to think that there is a female plant in there or close by?  I searched both areas as much as I could and found nothing. 
Anyone?

[Gabriela]

I suppose we are talking about Anaphalis and yes of course there is a difference - some plants have male flowers, some female flowers and even with both sexes.
So, you'll have to look after the 'male organs' and 'female organs' in the flowers It is a bit late in the season though....

[Linda_Foulis]

Such a help.   . Back to google.

[Rick R.]

I was very surprised that googling couldn't easily bring up a diagram of male and female Anaphalis flowers.  I couldn't even find what I remember as a kid: two distinct "forms", one with rounded flowers (each "flower" being one entire disk), and one with each flower having a smoke stack.  Like this:


That was when I was, say, ten years old.   Now I realize that the smoke stacks must have been the ripening seed heads (doh!). 

I suppose the simple answer, regarding Anaphalis, would be to wait and see which groups produce seed and which don't, then look at them next year.  Not what you are hoping for, I know.  Sorry I can't help, but I thought my little story might bring some cheer.

[Gabriela]

Such a help.   . Back to google.

Well, good luck! That's the only way I know to distinguish dioecious or mixed flowered plants.

[Gabriela]

Rick, your drawing as a kid is really cute and actually quite good showing female flowers (first) and male flowers (second) - not to give a wrong impression to others.

I think you would have drown differently the ripening seed heads.
I will return with an example of male/female/combined flowers - it doesn't have to be particularly for Anaphalis, any Asteraceae will do.

[Maggi Young]

Three quotes from  google sources found on this matter....

The flowers of pearly everlasting are either entirely staminate (pollen producing ) or functionally pistillate (mostly producing just seed, but with a few staminate flowers present). This adaptation promotes cross-pollination by insects (mostly butterflies and moths) and reduces the likelihood of self-fertilization.

Staminate flowers tubular, with undivided style, pistillate flowers tubular-filiform, with bifid style; pappus of distinct capillary bristles.

Plants are 18-36" (45-91 cm) in height, sporting a tight ball of tiny white flowers with yellow centers, looking a bit like dozens of tiny fried eggs. (Technically, the white parts are bracts, modified leaves, and the yellow parts are the flowers. And only the male plants have yellow flowers, they are white on female plants.) Especially shortly before they open, the flowers have an almost pearl-like appearance. Leaves are about 2" (5 cm) in length, but only ⅛" (3.2 mm) wide, with sharp tips. They have tiny hairs on the undersides, with a fuzzy feeling.